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BOMB SCARE AT SALEM COLLEGE - Emergency responders and law enforcement agencies responded to Salem International University Tuesday morning after a report of a bomb threat, a security guard calling 911.
The guard said a person had a bomb in an English class.
Police arrested John Richards, 33, of Clarksburg and charged him with possession of a hoax bomb, a misdemeanor. Richards could face up to a year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. He'll also pay restitution for costs associated with first responders and law enforcement from Tuesday's events, according to Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Shaffer.
Police say Richards threatened a class and left, with a small black box later found by law enforcement in his car. He told authorities his actions were part of a class presentation.
About 30 police officers responded to the incident.
Students were relocated to a safe area.
"He was trying to be artsy, I guess," the Harrison County Prosecutor said. "You can get away with that in acting class, but it didn't work here."
Richards was scheduled to give a presentation and "decided to do a little bit of role playing. He was sort of acting out - 'What would you do if your neighbor had a bomb,' or something along those lines. People immediately got afraid."
When Richards saw that a few female classmates were hysterical and crying, he realized his error, the Prosecutor said.
He took his black box with its blinking green light to his car, sat down and waited the arrival of authorities.
Richards was obviously frightened once he realized the stir he had created.
BOMB THREAT AT DOH GARAGE - State Police and the WV Division of Highways are investigating a bomb threat made against the DOH office in Smithburg, its equipment and personnel.
Police said they don't know why the person made the threat but that he called the facility directly.
They believe it was a man who disguised his voice.
The caller said, "we are going to do to something drastic to your buildings and your trucks, you better watch out."
The authorities inspected the facility with a bomb squad and K-9s and found no indication of a bomb.
SCHOOL BOMB THREAT - Philippi Elementary School was evacuated Tuesday morning after officials learned of a bomb threat.
Students at the school were evacuated to Philippi Middle School.
Authorities had to call in a bomb dog from Petersburg since local crews had already been called to Salem.
The Philippi Police Department is investigating.
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