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Friday Walmart evacuation due to bomb threat, police confirm

The Walmart located at 1015 N. Loyalsock Ave., Montoursville, was evacuated Friday afternoon due to a bomb threat that was called into both the store and state police Troop F headquarters, also located in Montoursville, Montoursville Borough police confirmed in a press release.

The call was received around 3 p.m., according to the release.

"As a result of the threat, employees and customers were evacuated from Walmart and the store and surrounding area were secured," the release said.

"They just made us leave the store,” a customer said.

“A store employee told us there was a threat. They told us to get in our vehicles and either go home or out towards Wendy’s,” the customer said.

At about 3:40 p.m., a command post was set up in the parking lot near Subway across from the entrance, according to scanner reports.

"Multiple police assets were deployed to clear both the surrounding area and the store itself," the release said.

A sweep of the building and parking lot was completed just before 7 p.m., after which employees were expected to return to the store.

"Once deemed safe and secure, employees were escorted back to the store where it resumed operation shortly after," borough police said in the release.

The department offered their appreciation to the many state and local agencies who responded to the incident as well as the employees of Walmart and to nearby businesses for their support and patience as the initial investigation of the area was conducted.

While the investigation is ongoing, there is currently no active threat to the community, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact borough police Deputy Chief Gardner at 570-368-2488.