Bomb threat shuts down Linn County courthouses for about an hour

Two Linn County courthouses were shut down for about an hour Wednesday afternoon after the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Linn County Public Defender's Officer fielded calls stating there was a bomb in a Linn County courthouse that would detonate at 2 p.m.

According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the calls were received at about 1:15 p.m.

Because there are two county courthouses, the sheriff's office said it made the decision to close the Linn County Courthouse on Mays Island and the Juvenile Justice Center on Eighth Avenue SW.

Officers were sent to both locations and searches were conducted both inside and outside each building, but no suspicious packages were found.

Both courthouses were re-opened as of 2:15 p.m. The Linn County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing.

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