False Bomb Threat at DQ Reportedly Came From Prison

(RepublicanView.org) – A Dairy Queen outlet received a bomb threat in Virginia, which was traced to an Alabama prison. On Friday evening, June 14, staff at the Dairy Queen in Verona answered a phone call to hear a warning that bombs had been placed throughout the restaurant. Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and Augusta County Fire Rescue soon arrived and ordered the building’s evacuation – it remained closed until the following day.

The University of Virginia Police Department’s Explosives Detection Canine Team also arrived on the scene, but the dogs did not locate any menacing devices.

Responding to local people’s concerns expressed on social media, Sheriff Donald Smith said the intense law enforcement operation at the Dairy Queen stemmed from an “abundance of caution” and reassured local residents that the area was safe.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the threatening call came from the Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio, Alabama, where officials confirmed an inmate is under investigation. The identity of the imprisoned suspect has not been confirmed.

Easterling Correctional Facility is located in the small town of Clio, which is home to just over 1,000 people. The prison’s population is around 1,267 – making it one of the larger jails in the Yellowhammer State. It is also home to one of Alabama’s six death row blocks and an execution chamber.

Inmates at Easterling are permitted to make phone calls under strict conditions. All calls must be collect, limited to specified timeframes, and all prisoners must provide a list of those they intend to call, and cannot phone anyone who is omitted. Additionally, all calls are recorded and monitored. Therefore, officials need clarification on how a prisoner could phone a Dairy Queen outlet miles away.

The FBI explains that issuing threats via telephone, email, or the internet is a federal crime that law enforcement agencies take seriously. FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich said hoaxes cause severe disruption and waste resources, and offenders can expect a jail term of up to five years.