Police investigate bomb threat at OSF St. Mary

OSF lockdown photo cop(UPDATED AT 2:03 p.m.) Galesburg police and fire crews responded to a bomb scare this morning at OSF St. Mary Medical Center after the hospital switchboard received a threatening phone call.

Authorities at the scene confirmed no explosives were found.

St. Mary President Roxanna Crosser says the hospital was put on lockdown as soon as the threat came in. Patients and visitors were not allowed to enter except for emergency situations.

Crosser tells WGIL the hospital’s incident command unit and police swept the facility searching for suspicious items.

“Communication went out to all of our employees within five minutes by email capabilities,” Crosser says, “and then touching all of the different floors. And then the search occurred in conjunction with our police department.”

Crosser says the hospital and police followed procedure to the letter.

“At no time did we feel our patients or our employees were in danger but we do take all of these situations seriously,” Crosser says.

Police Sergeant Paul Vannaken says officers are working with Century Link and OSF to determine if the call can be traced. He adds the caller was described as having a raspy voice, but was unclear if it was a man or woman.

The lockdown ran from about 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

 

 

 

 

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