Soaring Eagle Casino And Resort Evacuated Overnight Due To 2 Bomb Threats; Person Of Interest Identified
MOUNT PLEASANT (WWJ) - Authorities say the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort remains closed Friday morning after a pair of bomb threats was called in over night.
Erik Rodriguez, spokesperson for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, said the Mount Pleasant casino was evacuated late Thursday night after the threats were received.
"A little after 10:15 we received the first phone call of a bomb threat here to the casino and resort and shortly after that, approximately 30 minutes or so, we received a second phone call," Rodriguez told WWJ's Scott Ryan. "Both described some details that were caught on footage, so the issue was taken seriously."
About 2,500 guests and staff were moved off the casino's premises, while a smaller neighboring casino was also evacuated as a precaution and all surrounding roads were blocked off.
"We called in the Michigan State Police and officers assisted tribal police on getting some K-9 units and bomb teams to sweep the perimeter and the premises, and it's quite a substantial area here so it did take some time," said Rodriguez. "About 5:45 a.m., we got the go ahead and all-clear that nothing was found, so we are now in the process of getting everything back up and operational. There's no timeline on when the casino will be open to the public, but hopefully later this morning."
Police say both phone calls were placed by a woman and Rodriguez said investigators have a feeling they know who is responsible.
"We do have a person of interest identified by our tribal police officers and hopefully from that we can gather why this was done and the motive behind it," he said.
At this point, no arrest have been.
An investigation is ongoing.
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