Springfield police chief speaks after bomb threat evacuates city hall

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) -- The chief of the Springfield Police Division spoke with reporters Thursday, after the shutdown of multiple buildings in the area, and at least one was attributed to a bomb threat.

The impromptu news conference, held at 2:30 p.m. at the National Trails Park and Recreation facility, came as Chief Allison Elliott's town sees nationwide attention over its legal Haitian immigrant population. She said police have not shared information on a possible suspect behind the threat, but did confirm they searched and cleared the buildings involved.

“Safety is a shared responsibility and it takes all of us -- I encourage the public -- if you see something, say something,” Elliott said.

Former President Donald Trump claimed the immigrants were eating residents' pets, while his running mate J.D. Vance also claimed the migrants were contributing to increased tuberculosis and HIV cases. The city has fought back on the accusations, with Mayor Rob Rue saying there is no verified instance where the Haitians have killed or eaten local wildlife or pets.

Officials have acknowledged a strain on infrastructure for the town of around 58,000 from the 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants, and Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday he would send aid to remedy those concerns. Simultaneously, the Ohio Attorney General's Office announced it would explore legal options for the claims befalling Springfield.

Elliot confirmed that a morning bomb threat at Springfield City Hall resulted in its evacuation and shutdown for the rest of the day. Springfield officials said the threat came from an email sent at 8:24 a.m. to multiple agencies, and asked the public to avoid the area.

Within the same day, WDTN also documented the shutdown of Fulton Elementary School, and staff transported the students to Springfield High School. District officials did not specify a threat to the school, but said they made the decision based on "information received from the State Fire Marshal." Additionally, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles told NBC4 they closed three locations within the region, citing the city hall bomb threat.