PRESS RELEASE From: Police Department Contact: Public Information Officer, Lt. Malcolm Dupre Date: July 12, 2004
City of Thibodaux 1309 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA 70301 985-446-7214
Bomb Threat at Wal-Mart
Thibodaux Police responded to a call of a bomb at Wal-MartSuper center Sunday, July 11 at approximately 1:30 P.M.Officers immediately began evacuating Wal Mart of shoppers and employees.Other stores in the area of the Wal Mart lot were also evacuated.
Following the evacuation of the stores, police were alertedto a white male sitting in a car in a near by parking lot.He was acting very suspicious and attempting to take photos of theincident. Officers located the male sitting in his vehicle and secured him.Officers discovered a suspicious item located inside the vehicle.The male suspect was brought to the Thibodaux Police Department forquestioning.
A request for a certified “bomb dog” was made but nodog was available.A decision wasmade to contact the Louisiana State Police unit specializing in bomb andincendiary device detection.Thesespecialized officers along with an FBI bomb expert arrived at the scene atapproximately 5:30 P.M. and proceeded with their investigation of the vehicleand the suspicious item inside. The vehicle was x-rayed then searched withoutincident.There was no hazardousmaterial found inside the vehicle.
At approximately 7:25 P.M., following searches of Wal Martand surrounding stores, they were advised to resume business as usual.
The white male, whose vehicle was the subject of theinvestigation, was released from police custody following his questioning.His identity has not been revealed.
2008
