Linn County Undersheriff Michelle Duncan reports yesterday around 11:16 a.m., deputies received information leading to the lockdown of the Linn County Courthouse. Initial information suggested someone was bringing a gun to court and planned to harm those in the courtroom.
Due to the nature of the initial threat, deputies quickly began to close the courthouse to the public and investigate the threat. Deputies learned a defendant in a landlord dispute made vague threats to the landlord’s attorney. This information evolved into inaccurate information. Deputies contacted all the people in the chain of communication, the defendant and followed up with all relative information to determine there was no threat to the courtroom.
Within a couple hours, deputies obtained enough information to open the courthouse to normal operations. The collaboration between Linn County employees and partners from other agencies were key in the quick response to the report.