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Bomb threat investigated at Elon nursing home

Times-News - 7/6/2017

July 06--A bomb threat called in for an Elon nursing home Wednesday afternoon came from inside the facility, authorities say.

At 5:24 p.m., a 911 caller reported a bomb inside the Oaks of Alamance assisted living center, 1670 Westbrook Ave. Around 58 residents were evacuated to the First United Methodist Church of Elon, which is next door.

Town of Elon, Elon University and Gibsonville police and the Elon and Burlington fire departments helped evacuate the residents and search the facility. Officers went room by room to clear the building of any suspicious items, but found none, Elon Assistant Police Chief James Perry said. The building was declared safe at 6:50 p.m.

The 911 call was found to have come from a phone in the nursing home's library.

The evacuation was efficient, especially considering how hot it was outside and the amount of medical equipment that had to be moved along with residents, Elon Fire Chief Charles Walker said. One person injured an ankle during the evacuation and was treated for the minor injury by Alamance County EMS.

Shuttles and buses were used to move residents back into the Oaks.

"Having the church here really helped," Elon Police Chief Cliff Parker said. "There just happened to be staff still inside, and they opened up the church for us."

Alamance County Emergency Management and Alamance County Rescue also assisted at the scene.

Perry said the agencies will review their response to the threat and use it to train and prepare for future events.

Online editor Michael D. Abernethy can be reached at mabernethy@thetimesnews.com or at 336-506-3042. Follow him on Twitter at @tnmichaela.

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