A 15-year-old Sundre area boy has been charged after a bomb threat was called into the Greenwood Family Physicians Clinic on Nov. 26 at noon, police said Monday.
“This youth is now charged with Uttering Threats contrary to Section 264.1(1) Criminal Code and Public Mischief contrary to Section 140(1) Criminal Code,” said Sundre RCMP Cpl. Ryan Hodge.
“There is no evidence to suggest the youth had any plan or ability to carry out the threat made to the clinic.”
Hodge said they found the offender through investigating phone records.
About two dozen patients and staff members were evacuated from the clinic following the call.
They were taken to the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre, which is attached to the clinic. The hospital was preparing for evacuation as well.
Shortly after the threat was received, the Sundre fire department assisted police in blocking off all access to the hospital grounds.
STARS Air Ambulance had just arrived on the scene and was delayed in leaving with a critically ill patient due to the threat.
The helicopter was safe to take off shortly after 1 p.m. with its patient. No injuries were reported.
Staff was safe to re-enter the building shortly before 1 p.m, after police and staff searched the building with no explosives found inside.
Cpl. Hodge said it was a very serious offence, especially to a hospital as peoples' lives could have been in jeopardy if they needed to be removed from critical care.
“Police would like to impress upon the public that these types of telephone calls will be treated seriously and are not considered pranks,” said Hodge.
“This particular call did put people's well being in harms way and tied up vital emergency services unnecessarily.”
The boy, who cannot be named, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Jan. 21.
