Community Corner

Bomb Threat Evacuates Stamford Courthouse

The courthouse was cleared for about an hour-and-a-half Monday morning.

A bomb threat caused the evacuation of the Stamford Courthouse early Monday when state and local authorities brought in K-9 units to clear the building. 

Called in at approximately 10:15 a.m., Stamford Police Chief Jon Fontneau said police "methodically" inspected the building before allowing citizens back in at 11:38 a.m. 

Fontneau said the threat was delivered by a male caller who stated a bomb would go off at 4 p.m., but the threats proved unfounded. The call came just a week after two bombs caused devastation at the Boston Marathon, and Fontneau said police were on high alert and prepared to deal with any and all threats, but stated the public had a role to play as well. 

"We're encouraging everyone to be observant," he said. "I believe people are being more vigilant and we're happy about that. The Stamford Bomb Team is at the top of their game."

State police and authorities from Stamford and Greenwich were all on scene Monday, and K-9 units could be seen inside the building and outside sweeping the garage. 

"I was inside the building and they told us to evacuate around 10:20 a.m.," said Stamford resident Carol Ann McClean "In the lobby, as we were leaving the building, there were two dogs already waiting there."

Hartford attorney Yelena Akim, who was also a law clerk at the courthouse in 2007, said she was in town for an arguable, unopposed motion she had hoped would take less than an hour of her time. 

"I'm not surprised [about the call,]" Akim said, calling back to her days as clerk when she experienced evacuations from threats regularly. "But I don't want to be involved, I'll wait right over here. But we're all just standing out here like morons. At least the dogs are cute."


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