Government Center Evacuated After Bomb Threat

A bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax forced authorities to evacuate the Ventura County Government Center on Monday afternoon.

Sheriff’s Department dispatchers received a 911 call at 3:45 p.m. from an individual using a pay phone in Newbury Park. The person claimed that three bombs were set to go off in 30 minutes at the government center, authorities said.

The complex was not evacuated until another call was received at 4:20 p.m. from a pay phone at the government center. At that time, the caller stated that the bombs would explode in five minutes.

The Hall of Justice was evacuated, but a search of the building did not turn up anything suspicious. Employees and the public were allowed back into the building at 5 p.m.