Investigators clear Columbus Government Center after bomb threats, arrest made

An all-clear has been given after the Columbus Consolidated Government center in downtown Columbus was evacuated Monday morning because multiple bomb threats were made, according to Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.

Countryman told the Ledger-Enquirer the calls came in around 9:06 a.m. Monday.

Multiple bomb dogs were conducting a bomb sweep of the building, Countryman said

Arrest

A woman has been arrested in connection with the bomb threat against the government center, according to the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. A news release from the sheriff’s office says Regina Ingram was arrested and charged with two counts of felony terroristic threats or acts and felony violation of probation.

The Columbus 911 center received a call from a woman stating an explosive device was inside the Columbus Consolidated Government center that was set to go off, according to the release.

The release says the government center was evacuated and the Columbus Hazardous Device Response Team and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team conducted a sweep of the entire building.

The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit began their investigation and quickly identified Ingram as the suspect, according to the release.

Previous threat

This isn’t the first bomb threat the government center has faced this year. Another bomb threat was made in September.

In that threat the sheriff’s office received a report that someone claimed to have set up bombs in all of the courtrooms, according to Countryman. This prompted an evacuation of personnel, visitors and prisoners at the government center, the sheriff’s office said at the time.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 9:58 AM.