Plymouth Police continue to investigate false bomb threat
PLYMOUTH, Ind. -- The Saint Joseph Health System Medical Center in Plymouth is back open after a fake bomb scare forced an evacuation overnight.
The caller allegedly claimed there were bombs in every bathroom, with both the hospital and police taking the threat very seriously and moving patients to other facilities as quickly as possible.
The hospital reopened just after 1 a.m., with crews clearing the scene after working together to evacuate nine patients. Two were safely discharged, while the remaining seven were transferred.
The Plymouth Police Department got the call around 9 p.m. Officers called in backup from the South Bend Bomb Squad and K9 units from LaPorte and Porter counties, who did not find anything after hours of searching.
Patients were transported with the help of La Paz and Tri County ambulances.
Saint Joseph Health System allegedly sent employees a mass email alerting them, while word traveled fast around the surrounding community.
Neighbors said they were in shock to hear of the false alarm.
“When I heard the news, I thought it was scary. You wouldn’t expect something like that in a little town like Plymouth,” said Dan Winkler, a Plymouth resident.
There have been no additional phone calls or threats as the Plymouth Police Department continues working to trace the call and determine the motive behind it.