BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Capitol along with the Hollywood Casino was evacuated after two alleged bomb threats were called in Monday night. The State Police handled the investigation at the Capitol brining in bomb sniffing dogs and bomb technicians, while the Hollywood Casino by searched by their own staff. A man was detained for questioning after he turned himself into DPS officers on River Road. State police traced the call he made to a cell phone. Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, Jr. says, the threat was first reported by a male caller who told the Baton Rouge Police Department that he received messages that bombs are being placed in the State Capitol.
State Police say the man who they believe made the calls suffered from some type of mental illness and reportedly said god told him there was a bomb in each building. Col. Mike Edmonson with the Louisiana State Police, says making a threat like this is a serious offense.
“No ties or any indications of anyone trying to do any type harm to Baton Rouge or the state of Louisiana. I will also tell you this point. Right now there are no known threats in the state of Louisiana. Aside from this particular deal tonight, we have daily communications with the FBI and the Department of State. We have a fusion center here that’s actually working this case. They’re down at the Capitol now interviewing that gentleman.. following up on the phone calls, and all that.”
People were allowed to re-enter the Capitol and the casino around 8:15 a.m.