Five bomb threats – person of interest ID'd
The bomb threats made Friday against Northstar Academy, Sawyer International Airport, Marquette General Hospital, Northern Michigan University, and the package found at the Sawyer Medical Center appear to be linked to a person of interest.
The Marquette County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the incidents that started at about 10:30 a.m. Friday.
A message in a bathroom at Northstar Academy in Marquette Township led to the evacuation of the building and the dismissal of classes for the rest of the day. That call came in at 10:32 a.m. to Central Dispatch. A search of the building did not result in the discovery of any threatening devices. Marquette Township Fire and Rescue, Marquette Township Public Works and Marquette County Rescue 131 assisted at the scene.
At 12:50 p.m., a call to 911 reported that a bomb was set to explode at the airport an hour later. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad investigated a backpack that an explosive detecting K9 alerted to at the Sawyer International Airport. The contents of the backpack were camping gear and did not appear to be linked to the threat made against the Airport.
The Bomb Squad then processed the suspicious package found in a bathroom of the Sawyer Medical Center. That bomb threat was made at about 3:30 p.m. The package was removed and disrupted using a robot with a water charge. Contents of the package were assembled to replicate an explosive device.
Assisting the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office at both scenes were Marquette County Rescue 131, Escanaba Public Safety K9, Michigan State Police Bomb Squad, Sawyer International Personnel, Forsyth Township Police Department, Forsyth Township Fire Department, and the American Red Cross.
Marquette General Hospital and Northern Michigan University enacted established emergency plans as a result of the incidents.
The investigation into the threats and the device found remains under investigation by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office. Police ask that anyone with information regarding these incidents contact any local law enforcement agency.