Verizon call center in northeast Columbia evacuated during bomb threat investigation
Columbia Police Department investigated a bomb threat at the Verizon Wireless call center in northeast Columbia, a spokesperson said.
After the investigation no threat was found, the police department said.
Police responded to the call center at 501 Spears Creek Church Road just before 3 p.m. The call center was evacuated of its employees, a spokesperson for the police department said. All the employees have been accounted for, Verizon management told police per the department.
“The safety of our employees is of utmost importance, and out of an abundance of caution we have safely evacuated all employees who were onsite today,” Kate Jay, a spokesperson for Verizon, said. “We appreciate the efforts of the authorities and are fully cooperating with them.”
After an initial search, police found no threat, the department said. Still, special law enforcement teams searched the interior and exterior of the building, according to the department. The additional searches were “a precaution,” the department said.
The Verizon Wireless center “received a threatening call about an explosive device” the department said. A time when the threat came in and how many people have been evacuated were not specified by police.
The call center is near the towns of Pontiac and Elgin and is across the street from Pontiac Elementary School. About 1,100 people work at the call center, according to Verizon.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 3:53 PM.