Bomb threat empties two police stations

By Pete Skiba (2291)
pete.skiba@albanyherald.com

As of Wednesday, January 18, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

The Albany Police Department’s bomb-sniffing dog Bubie and his handler Cpl. Gary Price check out cars parked outside the Law Enforcement Center for planted explosives after checking the building’s interior because of an about 2 p.m. Wednesday bomb threat called in to dispatch.

Pete Skiba

Bubie the Albany Police Department bomb sniffing K-9 and his handler Cpl. Gary Price check out the entrance to the Law Enforcement Center after an about 2 p.m. Wednesday bomb threat. Before 3:55 p.m., Bubie signaled the all clear.

ALBANY, Ga. — A man called emergency 911 dispatch threatening to bring an AK-47 assault rifle and bombs to police stations about 2 p.m. Wednesday.

It proved to be a false alarm.

The Albany Police Department evacuated its Law Enforcement Center at 201 W. Oglethorpe Blvd. and the precinct at 530 W. Broad Ave. as a precaution.

“Immediately both buildings were evacuated and employees were sent to another location,” said Phyllis Banks, police spokeswoman. “Bomb dog Bubie and Cpl. Gary Price his handler were activated to conduct a check of the building.”

Bubie checked both inside and outside the buildings. He did not detect any explosive material and the employees returned to their jobs before 3 p.m., Banks added.

Tracing a call back is one of the capabilities of the dispatch team, Banks said. Police are using dispatch help to find the man who made the call, she added.

Asked to shelter employees while Bubie did his job, B.J. Fletcher at Cafe 230 — just a short walk away from the Law Enforcement Center on Broad Avenue — opened her second floor to police and other employees to wait. She said they could eat on her if they’d like.

“An officer called and asked if we had a place for them to stay. I said yes we do,” Fletcher said. “They are there for us, I want to be there for them.”

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KaosinAlbany 1 year, 4 months ago

Wow, sometimes I just cannot believe how stupid people are. Really, call in a bomb threat at a police dept.?

FlunkyMonkey 1 year, 4 months ago

The criminal element in Albany is not the smartest or the brightest in this country. But you have got to give them credit, they got guts!! And just think, somewhere in town, some not to bright criminal is laughing at the fact that he evacuated not one BUT TWO police stations with one telephone call. LMAO

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