A business complex on Main Street in Cottonwood received either the second or third in a recent string of bomb threats Tuesday, Aug. 23.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Karen Hopkins of Edward Jones Financial said that a Cottonwood Police Department officer told her that a man had called in a bomb threat. She and the rest of Edward Jones’ staff were told to vacate the building, which also houses the Cottonwood Journal Extra office. Within an hour, Hopkins was told she could return to the office, but she opted to stay outside until the two officers completed their search.
“I thought it best to stay outside,” Hopkins said. “I think it’s a hoax, but people are crazy.”
By 9:30 a.m., CPD Sgt. Cody Savage alerted the handful of people waiting outside that he and Officer Steve Phoenix had completed a preliminary search of the premises, including an open mailbox and other areas where a incendiary or explosive device could be placed. In Savage’s view, it would be safe for staff to return to their offices.
“We don’t have any reason to believe it’s credible,” Savage said. “Sounds to me like he’s messing with TASC.”
TASC — Treatment Assessment Screening Center — is located on the second floor of the complex. According to its website, the organization is “a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation headquartered in Phoenix … licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services as an outpatient behavioral health clinic, domestic violence offender treatment program, clinical laboratory and DUI screening, education and treatment provider.”
According to Sari McQuality of Draxler Insurance, Tuesday’s was the third bomb threat in the last few weeks, coming a week to the day after the second, which she said occurred in the late afternoon of Aug. 16. Though McQuality had been absent at the time, a fellow businessperson in the complex reported the incident to her. On Aug. 23, McQuality said one of the two officers reported a third previous bomb threat to the complex.
“It’s getting old,” McQuality said, adding that she has become nervous about coming to work and worries about being monitored. “It’s like ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf.’ When is it going to be the real one?”
CPD Det. Sgt. Tod Moore offered a counterpoint to McQuality’s account, stating that, “As far as I am aware this is only the second call, the first happening two weeks ago. The caller just stated there was a bomb at 830 S. Main and it needed to be evacuated. Officers responded and checked the area but found nothing.
“I have no idea why anybody would say it was someone messing with TASC other than they possibly have clients who may not be happy with them. At this point it is an ongoing investigation.”
