LAKEPORT, Calif. – After nearly a week of heightened security measures due to a bomb threat, officials on Tuesday decided to return to normal safety procedures at the Lake County Courthouse.

The building, located at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, was the focus of a threat – made via telephone to a local reporter and then relayed to the sheriff’s office – on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

That threat initially caused an evacuation of the building while law enforcement searched for an explosive device. None was found, and court and county staffers were allowed to go back to work that same afternoon.

Then, late last week, law enforcement and county administrative officials decided to close the courthouse for the weekend in order to conduct another precautionary security sweep before staff returned to work on Monday, as Lake County News has reported.

Most members of the public must pass through a screening checkpoint at the building’s main entrance.

Courthouse staff, who usually are allowed to pass through side doors with access cards, were temporarily required to go through the building’s main entrance as well, according to interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry.

On Tuesday afternoon, following the Board of Supervisors meeting, Perry met with Capt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown and Lake County Superior Court Executive Officer Mary Smith.

He told Lake County News that they decided to resume normal entrance practices on Wednesday morning, including allowing employees with access cards to once again enter through side doors rather than the busier main entrance.

Perry said an email was sent to county employees Tuesday afternoon advising them of the return to normal procedures, and reminding them of certain safety practices regarding entering and exiting the courthouse.

He said those practices include requiring that employees and others who are exiting the building through side doors not allow people to enter and circumvent security screening.

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