News

Bomb threat at Bottineau Walmart second in five months

By Scott Wagar

11/22/2011

For the second time in five months, Bottineau’s Walmart received another bomb threat this past Monday, which closed down the store for a number of hours as local law enforcement searched the building for an explosive device.

The Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department was contacted around 6:30 p.m. by Walmart on Monday evening regarding a bomb threat the store received. The sheriff’s department, along with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Border Patrol, Bottineau Fire Department and Bottineau Ambulance went to the supercenter where local agents removed around 40 shoppers and all of its staff from the building.

From there, law enforcement went through the building and ascertained that Walmart had no device within the structure.

Due to the onsite investigation, it was determined that a bomb squad wasn’t required for the investigation, and the store was re-opened around 9 p.m. that same evening.

In the two and a half hours that Walmart was closed, Jeff Shriver, manager of Bottineau’s Walmart store, stated the supercenter lost over $10,000 in sales, merchandise (food) that had to be thrown out, and staff salaries. 

Steve Watson, sheriff of Bottineau County, who is the lead investigator on the bomb threat, stated that the case is currently under investigation.
Watson is asking any individuals who have information on the case to call the sheriff’s department at (701) 228-2740.