Bomb Threat Leads to Evacuation of Marion County Courthouse

Deputies make arrest in Marion County Courthouse bomb threat.

40-year old Jiy Travis Williams of Willamina was arrested in connection with today's bomb threat. Photo: Marion County Sheriff

(SALEM, Ore.) - The police dispatch center in Salem received a 911 call today from a male caller who indicated that a "bomb" would detonate at the Marion County Courthouse in 20 minutes. The call was placed at 12:55 PM.

The origin of this 911 call was identified as the Salem transit mall located at 555 Court St. Ne. Salem, Oregon.

The courthouse was the subject of a hostile takeover in 2005, it had to be rebuilt afterward. (see Marion Courthouse Plunger Gets 16 Years for Courthouse Rampage) It seems natural that law enforcement officers in Marion County would take a threat against their courthouse very seriously.

Commander Jason Myers with the Marion County Sheriff's Office says information regarding this call was relayed to Marion County Sheriff's Deputies and Salem Police Officers.

"Sheriff's Office Patrol deputies and Salem Police officers responded to the Courthouse while the Courthouse was evacuated by Sheriff's Office Judicial Security deputies assigned to the Courthouse."

Myers says once the Courthouse was evacuated an interior and exterior search of the Courthouse (for anything thought to be explosive or suspicious in nature) was conducted by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies and Salem Police Officers.

"While the search of the Courthouse was being conducted information regarding a possible suspect, the individual believed to be responsible for the 911 call, was relayed to Sheriff's Deputies and Salem Police Officers by Salem Police Officer Chad Basaraba."

He says Officer Basaraba, who was working at the transit mall while this incident was evolving) developed the suspect information from transit mall surveillance video.

"Sheriff Russ Isham and Commander Troy Clausen located an individual, later identified as 40-year old Jiy Travis Williams of Willamina, who matched the possible suspect description given by Officer Basaraba."

He says Williams was found acting suspiciously in an alley approximately 1 block away from the Courthouse.

"Mr. Williams was contacted and subsequently taken into custody. Mr. Williams has been charged with Misuse of 911, Disorderly Conduct, Initiating a False Report, Recklessly Endangering another person, and Parole Violation."

Approximately 150 persons were evacuated from the Courthouse and the Courthouse remained evacuated for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Nothing suspicious or explosive was found inside or around the courthouse.

Jiy Williams has been transported to the Marion County Jail where he has been lodged.