FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Police and the FBI are investigating a string of four bomb threats reported across the Treasure Coast over the last eight days, including the latest threat made against Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
Three of the four threats were sent by email, according to police. Investigators are now working to determine whether the incidents are connected.
Police say none of the threats were found to be credible, but officers continue to take each one seriously.
The latest scare happened Saturday at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where Fort Pierce police officers searched the building for a possible bomb after receiving a threat by email.
Police cruisers surrounded the hospital Saturday afternoon as officers investigated. Visitor areas were evacuated as a precaution, and police gave the all-clear several hours later.
Patient care was not interrupted.
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Dan Toback, who lives in Port St. Lucie and runs a community news page called SLC Scanner, said the threats are creating unnecessary fear in the community.
“Don’t let people with nothing better to do strike fear in your community,” Toback said. “These threats that are coming out are people that are simply trying to cause fear, nothing more. People are safe.”
Fort Pierce police say the threat against Lawnwood Hospital followed similar patterns to a threat reported Friday at Indian River State College, as well as threats made at two Treasure Coast-area high schools.
Three of the four threats were sent by email.
The first threat was called in at Fort Pierce Central High School on Friday, September 4. Students were evacuated while deputies investigated.
No explosives were found in any of the incidents.
Major Michael Santiago with the Fort Pierce Police Department said officers have to treat every threat seriously while working to keep students, employees and residents safe.
“We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of not only our schools and the employees and the students, but also the citizens of the city,” Santiago said.
Investigators also say the email address used to send the threat to Martin County High School had been hacked and may have been connected to a suspect in Russia.
Santiago said investigators will continue working to identify whoever is behind the threats.
“Once we narrow this down, those who are making these threats, we will find you and we will prosecute you,” Santiago said.
All four incidents remain under investigation.
Police are asking anyone with information about the threats to contact investigators.