LAKEPORT, Calif. – A bomb threat called into the Lake County Counsel’s Office on Thursday morning prompted a complete evacuation of the Lake County Courthouse and District Attorney’s Office.

The buildings, located at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, were closed for more than three hours, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At approximately 9:15 a.m., staff at the Lake County Counsel’s Office received a call from an unidentified man, who reported sounded “very angry” and stated, “don’t mess with the marijuana users,” according to Bauman.

Bauman said the caller went on to state, “A bomb had been placed in the courthouse that was set to go off at 10:30 am.” The caller finished the call by adding, “don’t **** with us,” and then hung up.

The call was made less than an hour before a public hearing was scheduled to commence before the Lake County Planning Commission in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers to discuss an ordinance for the dispensing of medical marijuana in Lake County.

An amendment to the ordinance was to be proposed by the Lake County Community Development Department to regulate and limit the number of medical marijuana dispensaries operated by collective and cooperative organizations.

Within minutes of the phone call, as many as 10 sheriff’s deputies and command staff members responded to the courthouse and the adjacent District Attorney’s Office. Bauman said they began evacuation procedures of the Superior Court staff, County employees, and the public.

He said sheriff’s deputies closed off the surrounding streets, directed evacuees to designated staging areas, and then conducted a sweep of both buildings to assure they were empty.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, in whose jurisdiction the courthouse is located, said his agency initially wasn't notified of the threat.

He said a Lakeport Police officer saw the sheriff's activity around the courthouse and Lakeport Police then made contact with the sheriff's office, which he said requested that Lakeport Public Works be contacted to barricade the streets around the buildings.

Sheriff Frank Rivero said that secure perimeter around the entire block was maintained into the afternoon.

Bauman said an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) K-9 detection team responded from the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield. 

At noon the bomb detection team arrived and with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies began a search of the courthouse. Bauman said that, within an hour, the entire four story building was searched by the detection team and no evidence of a bomb was found.

At approximately 1 p.m. the courthouse and the District Attorney’s Office were both reopened for business and traffic was resumed on the surrounding streets, Bauman said.

He added that the source of the bomb threat and identity of the caller is under investigation by detectives with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit.

Rivero commended all of the county employees, department heads, superior court staff, and the public for their safe and efficient evacuation of the courthouse and District Attorney’s Office.

He also expressed his deepest gratitude to Staff Sergeants Chris Smith and Charles Bell of the Travis Air Force Base 60th Security Forces and their EOD detection K-9, “Nico,” for their fast response and the service they offered the county.

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