STOCKTON, Calif. — The San Joaquin County courthouse in downtown Stockton was evacuated Wednesday due to a bomb threat.
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, the courthouse was evacuated as a precaution and is closed for the rest of the day.
The District Attorney's offices were also put on lockdown as a precaution.
"I was getting ready to go through a checkpoint, and at that point, they just told me to turn around and walk back out. They couldn't disclose why or anything. They just said that we needed to evacuate the entire building," said Alex Villasenor, who flew in from Nevada for a court date in Stockton. "The entire building is now shut down. There are canines inside. There are fully armed guards everywhere."
Deputies searched the 13-story building but didn't find anything. The disruption, beginning around 10:30 a.m., could cost Villasenor hundreds of dollars.
"I flew in from Nevada. I had court today, so I just made a special trip," said Villasenor. "It's a $600 plane ticket to come out here, and... nothing is going to happen now."
For jurors and court staff members, however, the day-long closure came with pros and cons.
"I'm still thankful that it's canceled," said juror Ramel Cruz. "For everybody's safety."
The courthouse is expected to re-open Thursday.
Santa Maria Courthouse Explosion
An explosive device that authorities said was intentionally set injured five people at a California courthouse Wednesday, authorities said.
One person of interest was detained following the blast reported shortly after 8:45 a.m. at the Santa Maria Courthouse in Santa Maria, sheriff’s officials said. The small city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara County is in California's central coast region.
Zick later said the person detained was a man and the blast came from “an intentionally set" explosive device.
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