Empire Mall in Sioux Falls given all clear after 'bomb threat,' police say
Parts of the Empire Mall were evacuated on Friday afternoon after a bomb threat was called in, police said.
By 3:45 p.m., the mall was back open an hour after receiving the threat. An arrest hasn’t been made yet, but officers are investigating.
Sioux Falls Police Capt. Terrance Matia said someone called in a “bomb threat” and that a suspicious package was found near the entrance to the Empire Mall between Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's on the southern side of the mall.
Turns out someone wrote “BOOM” in chalk by a box and left. Mall security called it in and bomb squad eventually assessed it. Matia told me they’ve interviewed the person responsible and are considering charges. pic.twitter.com/ryX65eaobF
— Alfonzo “FoFo” Galvan (@GalvanReports) June 3, 2022
Officers and the Sioux Falls police bomb squad responded at 2:30 p.m. and found a box inside with the word "boom" written in chalk nearby, Matia said. The bomb squad determined the box did not contain any explosive devices.
Charges are being considered against the individual who made the threat, Matia said.
"Because of what was written, we're currently considering charges and taking the person into custody for the disruption calls out here today," Matia said.
The Dick's, Macy's and southeast side of the mall were evacuated, Matia said. Other portions of the mall stayed open and officers were positioned inside to keep shoppers away from the area.
On scene outside the Empire Mall where the building has been evacuated for an unknown reason. pic.twitter.com/XdzPCVd5dU
— ArgusLeader911 (@Argus911) June 3, 2022
This is a developing story. Stay with argusleader.com for updates.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Empire Mall in Sioux Falls given all clear after 'bomb threat"
