- November 19, 2024
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The Flagler County Courthouse has been evacuated because of a bomb threat.
A call came in at 12:35 p.m., and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office responded. Everyone who had been at the courthouse at the time has been accounted for, according to Paula Priester, the deputy who was recently assigned to the public information office.
A St. Johns County K-9 unit trained in bomb detection is currently checking every room of the facility. Flagler County bailiffs, who are also sworn deputies, conducted an initial search with no results.
The Government Services Building, which houses the government offices of the School Board, county administration and city of Bunnell, has not been evacuated.
Lisa Funicello, who works in the clerks office, was standing next to the coworker who received the call at 12:35 p.m.
According to Funicello, a voice on the phone said something like this:
"Just want to let you know there's a bomb in the building."
The person hung up the phone immediately, before any questions could be asked. Funicello's co-worker looked surprised. Then, they called courthouse security, and a few minutes later, the building was evacuated.
Funicello added that there was a number retrieved from the caller ID system, so the Sheriff's Office may have a lead.
Priester said she looked into past incidents and concluded that there has never been a bomb threat or an evacuation like this at the courthouse.
Clerk of Courts Gail Wadsworth noted that some residents might be concerned about court business that was delayed because of the evacuation. She said the following:
"Time has stopped for people who had papers to file, so it will not be late. If they bring something to us on Tuesday morning that was due today, it will be considered timely filed."
