Two in custody after bomb threat made to Highland Walmart | Belleville News-Democrat

Authorities evacuated the Highland Walmart at 12495 Illinois 143 at 7:30 p.m. Monday as police investigated a bomb threat there.

UPDATE: Bomb threat at Highland Walmart was hoax

According to Highland Police Chief Terry Bell, a shopper near the store’s entrance reportedly saw two males in their late teens or early twenties leaving. The shopper told police one of the subjects mentioned to the other that there was a bomb in the store.

Bell said that while that shopper notified authorities, another saw the car the two subjects were leaving in and wrote down its license plate number. Police located the car and took the two into custody. They have not been identified.

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No bomb had been located as of 9:15 p.m., though fire trucks continued to block the entrances to the store’s parking lot. Bell said the Illinois Secretary of State’s Police bomb squad was en route from Springfield to assist at the scene.

Bell said he expects charges to be filed against the two Tuesday. Charges could include felony disorderly conduct, but Bell said he also would recommend the two be held responsible for the cost of extra local and state police officers, added fire department personnel and the store’s lost business.

Return to BND.com for more on this developing story.