A bomb threat at the Highland Walmart has been determined to be a hoax. Two suspects remained in custody Tuesday and may face felony charges.
On Monday at 7:32 p.m., Highland Police received a call reporting that a shopper at the Walmart at 12495 State Route 143 in Highland overheard two men stating that there was a bomb in the building. Another shopper obtained the license plate number from the suspect’s car. Surveillance video was obtained.
Highland Police located the vehicle and its two occupants at 8:59 p.m. on the parking lot of Highland Tru Buy at 610 Broadway, less than four blocks away from the police station.
“It was learned that the bomb threat was a hoax and that was confirmed by an investigation completed at the store by Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb squad,” stated a press release by Highland Police Chief Terry Bell.
The bomb squad completed its investigation about 10:55 p.m. and the store was reopened.
On Monday night, Bell said the suspects could face felony disorderly conduct charges. He also said he would like to the pair fined for overtime costs for police and fire departments and lost sales during the nearly three-hour evacuation.
The agencies that responded to the bomb threat were the Highland Police and Highland Fire Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Grantfork Police Department, Illinois State Police and the Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad.
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