Idaho Falls Community Hospital is the latest target in a nationwide wave of call-in threats.
Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies responded to a threat called into the hospital this Wednesday just before 8 a.m.
“Certainly, it's cause for concern when we get a call like this, and we're going to respond and do what we can with the information that we have at hand to make sure everybody's safe,” said Sgt. Bryan Lovell, the public information officer with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. “The first priority is the safety of, you know, patients and staff and visitors there at the hospital.
Lovell says the incident is still under investigation.
Amy Allen took her father to IFCH for a procedure at 8 a.m. When she pulled into the parking lot, she couldn't get into the hospital.
“I was going to go park the car, and they just said that no one could go in right now, that they were on lockdown,” Allen said. “And so, there were, you know, more and more people came, and we're all sitting outside wondering what's going on.”
Allen says she saw snipers around the parking garage and several law enforcement vehicles near the entrance. She was finally able to enter the hospital around 8:30 after getting her bag checked.
She said she was grateful for everyone's calm demeanor and transparency throughout her time there, praising both hospital staff and Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies.
“I actually really appreciated that they were willing to say what was going on. They didn't just say, ‘You can't come in,’ you know what I'm saying?” Allen said. “To say there's been a threat and we're keeping everybody out right now. Like, I hate it when they don't tell you what's happening because then you're wondering, should I even be sitting in the parking lot? Is there an active shooter out here somewhere or whatever? But they were good. They were so calm and just gave us a little bit of information, which is what we needed.”
This is just the latest of several threats terrorizing parts of the United States now. Just a few days ago, Zoo Idaho in Pocatello received a bomb threat that closed the zoo for two days. On Tuesday, Yellowstone Bear World was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat.
Around 40 zoos and aquariums around the United States have responded to bombing and shooting threats that turned out to be hoaxes.
Sgt. Lovell says the sheriff's office takes every case seriously, wanting to make sure the community is safe. But he says they can't do it without help from the community.
“We live in a community where people, you know, call in suspicious activity and report suspicious things so that we can investigate and make a determination if something needs to be done,” Lovell said. “I would say it's always a good idea for people to continue to report those suspicious things, and we'll do our best to take appropriate action if necessary.”
If anyone has information about the incident at Idaho Falls Community Hospital or if you see suspicious activity, contact the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office at (208) 529-1200, through the East Idaho Crime Stoppers website, or through the P3 Tips mobile app.