The Hinds County Chancery Courthouse and all offices within have returned to normal operations following a “potential hazardous device” threat.
Sheriff Tyree Jones reported just before 9:30 a.m. on Monday that the government building in Jackson had been evacuated. His team and other law enforcement partners responded to the scene to investigate the incident and ultimately determined it was safe for the facility to reopen.
“All is clear at the Hinds County Chancery Courthouse following a threat of a hazardous device. Normal operations have resumed,” Jones said. “Thanks to our local, federal, and state law enforcement agencies that responded to assist. The source of the threat is under investigation.”
This is the second time in as many weeks that a suspicious device threat prompted an evacuation of government offices in Jackson, and the third time this year of a similar occurrence. On April 13, the Hinds County Circuit Courthouse and Hinds County Circuit Clerk’s Office had to suspend operations due to the potential threat, though the offices were opened later that day.
Back in February, the circuit and chancery courthouses were temporarily closed after someone had penned unspecified notes at the doors of the facilities and vandalized them with spray paint.
No arrests have been announced in any of these cases.