ACSO responds to two bomb scares

Update (9:05 p.m.): In a second update Santa Fe College confirmed that it received two separate bomb threat phone calls Tuesday. College officials do not believe either was credible, and the resulting search of the campus found nothing suspicious. 

Santa Fe College will resume normal operations Wednesday morning. 

Our original story (8:25 p.m.): 

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The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) responded to separate bomb scares Tuesday at the Gilchrist County courthouse and Santa Fe College’s Northwest campus.

According to a Santa Fe press release, the school received a non-specific bomb threat via phone call Tuesday afternoon.

Santa Fe determined there was no immediate threat, but it still decided to cancel evening classes at all locations.

“Closing the college gives officials the opportunity to allow law enforcement to continue their investigation and determine if the college is safe for students, faculty and staff in the morning,” the college said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, in Gilchrist County, Civil Deputy, Sgt. Stephen Stalvey became aware of a suspicious package at the front entrance to the county courthouse in Trenton.

Suspicious object found in Trenton

The sheriff’s office evacuated the courthouse and called the bomb squad from Alachua County. After obtaining the package, the bomb squad determined that there was no threat and the courthouse continued regular proceedings.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office released photos of the unusual object, but it did not disclose what it was or why it was left outside the courthouse. 

The ASCO has dealt with four bomb threats at Buchholz High School since the start of classes last month. On Monday, the ACSO arrested a 17-year-old Buchholz student for those bomb threats, as well as drug charges.

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