News

Actions

Fake bombs found at courthouse

Posted at 12:03 PM, May 31, 2012
and last updated 2012-05-31 17:48:50-04

HEATHSVILLE, Va. (WTVR) - Two devices found outside Northumberland County Court this morning were not real explosives, according to Northumberland Sheriff Charles Wilkins.

Sheriff Wilkins said the devices were made to look like real bombs.

A maintenance worker discovered the devices around 8:00 a.m. Thursday while preparing for the court to open.

The bomb squad used a water cannon to separate the device's “timer” from the “dynamite.” Again, Sheriff Wilkins said the device was not a real explosive, so there really was no timer nor dynamite.

The Sheriff said investigators had three suspects in mind for the crime. He added all three suspects were due in court today for sentencing.

Virginia State Police, the FBI and the ATF responded to the court building to investigate the morning incident.

Lee Francis, managing editor of the Northumberland Echo, was at the court building Thursday and during a phone interview on the CBS 6 News at Noon, told Cheryl Miller what he saw.

Sign up for Breaking News email alerts from WTVR.com.

Download the CBS 6 Breaking News App for your smartphone: Android | Blackberry |  iPhone and iPad