“The Springfield Police Division immediately initiated a coordinated response alongside many of our local and regional public safety partners. Each identified location was thoroughly assessed using established safety protocols,” Elliott said. “After thorough investigation no suspicious devices were located and there was no substantiated threat found. The affected facilities have been cleared.”
Threats referenced pipe bombs and said Haitian immigrants should be gone from Springfield, Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said at an earlier press conference. “Suspicious packages” were found outside the municipal court and public safety buildings in downtown Springfield, which led safety forces to block off the area.
Duffel bags were also found in the city in two different locations, DeWine said.
Several streets were closed downtown. These include Fountain Avenue, Columbia Street, North Street and Limestone Street. They have since reopened.
Other communities in the state of Ohio received similar email threats, Elliott said.
Clark County Sheriff Chris Clark said in a media release that the Dayton Bomb Squad helped clear “two specific downtown areas around the public safety building and courthouses,” “out of an abundance of caution.”
Clark said an initial investigation indicated the threats came from overseas but the sheriff’s office takes any threats “very seriously and are dedicated to assuring the safety of our schools, our children and the public in general.”
The police department continues to “monitor developments and remain in communication with our regional and state partners,” despite there being no active threat, Elliott said.
“Incidents like this serve as a reminder of the importance of preparedness, coordination and community awareness,” she said.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to the Springfield Police Division at 937-324-7680. All emergencies should be reported to 911.
“Springfield is a community that works together,” Elliott said. “Your patience and cooperation today are appreciated, and we are grateful for the professionalism demonstrated by our Division and our public safety partners throughout this response.”
DIG INTO OUR HAITIAN COVERAGE
Clark County Sheriff’s Office to ‘maintain the peace’ as TPS ends, will not enforce immigration laws
WATCH: Haitian restaurant in Springfield struggles as federal protections near expiration
• What’s coming?: After some initially warned of an anticipated 30-day ICE surge following the end of TPS, school and state officials stressed they have had no direct communication with the feds about potential enforcement actions, but they are preparing for the possibility.
• A community in fear: Reporter Cornelius Frolik traveled the streets of Springfield with a translator and spoke to more than a dozen Haitian people living and working in the Springfield area. Most of them expressed feelings of uncertainty and dread about the TPS cancellation.
• Lawsuits: Area Haitians on TPS are pinning their hopes on a couple of lawsuits that challenge the legality of the federal government’s decision to cancel the TPS designation for Haiti. Here are the details on those lawsuits, including one involving a Springfield man.
• Keket: Our reporters sat down with a local restaurant owner concerned that immigration enforcement fears could close her business. Her compelling personal story is captured in writing and video here.
• Residents prepare: More than 80 people took part in an educational event at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Springfield Thursday evening, learning about their rights and those of their neighbors regardless of immigration status.
• Law enforcement: Local law enforcement officials say they will work to “maintain the peace” amid any ICE surge, but they won’t enforce federal immigration law.
• City leaders: The Springfield City Commission unanimously passed a resolution asking federal immigration agents to follow local rules when conducting enforcement activities.
• Politicians react: Our statehouse reporter Avery Kreemer reached out to politicians who represent Dayton and Springfield at the state and national level about their views on ending TPS and an ICE surge. Read that story here.
• How we got here: We have been reporting on the growth of the Haitian population in Springfield and its effect on the community for years. This story from the archive explains why so many Haitians relocated to Springfield, Ohio.
• Community survey: In addition to reporters interviewing residents on the street, we created an online survey to gather community perspective. I’ll have a summary of responses in an upcoming story.
• Dayton action: Several Dayton restaurants and other businesses closed Friday and hundreds of people gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner’s Dayton office as part of the nationwide protest of ICE operations.
• VIDEO: What to know about Haitian immigration in Springfield
• VIDEO: Haitian immigrant community grows in Springfield
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