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Bomb threat triggers evacuation in Leavenworth
City and county officials are investigating a bomb threat after an emergency management dispatcher received a tip of an explosive device inside a garbage can near downtown Leavenworth.
LEAVENWORTH, Wash. - A bomb threat reported in Leavenworth turned out to be a false alarm, but the call caused major disruptions and treacherous travel for responding crews.
Chelan County Emergency Management reported the bomb threat around 9 p.m. Undersheriff Jason Matthews says RiverCom dispatchers received a tip from an unidentified man about a reported explosive device inside a garbage can at the 800 block of Front St. in downtown Leavenworth.
Local authorities ordered an evacuation of the area and a lockdown at Cascade Medical Center.
Bomb techs with Washington State Patrol were called to respond, but it took more than 2 hours to get there traveling through severe winter weather in the mountains. U.S. 2 was closed while crews investigated.
The area was eventually cleared and no bomb was found.