Walmart evacuated Saturday due to bomb threat

The local Walmart closed for approximately three hours Saturday evening following a bomb threat at the store.

An employee discovered a note in the store's electronics department around 9:45 p.m. saying a bomb was in the building and would explode within the next 72 hours, according to Police Sgt. Rick Viola, a spokesman with the Mountain Home Police Department.

Police ordered the store to evacuate its customers and employees until a bomb squad from the Boise Police Department arrived on scene. In addition, patrolmen closed off a section of American Legion from North 18th Street to East 8th North Street for approximately three hours.

Police used both streets to reroute traffic while the section of American Legion near Walmart remained closed.

Following their search of the building, the bomb squad reported there was no explosive device in the store. People were allowed back into the store around 1:15 a.m. Sunday.

In addition to police responders, the city dispatched fire department and ambulance crews to the scene as part of the standard procedure for bomb threats. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI were also notified.

Bomb threats are now a federal offense, and are taken seriously these days, according to Viola.

The incident remains under investigation by the city police department. Should a suspect be identified, they face not only state and federal felony charges but also become liable to reimburse the costs of emergency crews responding to the threat -- a figure that typically runs about $5,000. If a juvenile is involved, their parents become legally responsible for these costs.

"It's a very expensive bill," Viola said.