Council updated on bomb threat

RITZVILLE – At last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Police Chief Dave McCormick provided a recap and update about the Oct. 5 bomb threat at the high school.

Administrators shut down the Ritzville campus in response to a bomb threat sent via email to a school official. At the time, it was not immediately clear if the threat specifically targeted Ritzville or multiple schools.

In response, Ritzville and Othello police, Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies, city ambulance and road crews, and two K-9 bomb units from Fairchild Air Force Base searched the school facilities.

They found nothing.

Ritzville officer Matt Carlson contacted Google and was able to identify the Internet Protocol address of the email. That address was traced to a Snapchat account and police learned that the account’s owner had been communicating with a Lind-Ritzville High School student.

Police then contacted the local student and his family.

“We asked for their assistance, and the parents gave us access to the young man’s Snapchat account and other social media,” McCormick said.

As a result of their investigation, police determined that the local student had nothing to do with the bomb threat. McCormick also noted that the addresses associated with the email were “bounced around several states and traced back to India.”

“When we got that information, we were done,” he said.

He said investigators still don’t know why the incident happened in Ritzville or why that particular young man’s name was used.

“Everything went exactly as it should have,” McCormick said. “Notifications and responses went out, the school was evacuated right away, and the school was searched.”

Students returned to school the following week.

In other matters, the City Council:

• Approved a resolution authorizing the city clerk to proceed with administrative abatement for a so-called “nuisance” property at 414 E. Alder St. Conditions were listed as a cluttered yard, scrap piles, debris, fire hazards, and similar problems. The property’s ownership was considered “cloudy,” McCormick said, noting the name on the title belongs to a man who fled to Canada to escape possible criminal charges. “The FBI put a hold on him for re-entry to the United States,” McCormick said. “If he shows up at a border crossing, agents will snag him and kick him back.” He said the property is in poor condition. “The back door is screwed shut from the inside and outside. The floors are weak. Someone is living there, but they don’t have water. It’s dangerous to be inside that structure.”

• Approved a bid award for installation of a Well 8 pump station by Pipe of Washington, headquartered in Pasco. That firm is currently completing work on the town’s water distribution system, and expects to start the $1.9 million pump station project pending approval by USDA Rural Development.

• Listened as the City Clerk-Treasurer presented a preliminary budget for 2024. Changes from last year included 3% cost-of-living adjustments for staff, tourism fund allocations and an increased inflation rate from 3% to 5% for the Equipment Rental and Revolving Plan. The budget will be finalized next month.