Courthouse evacuated for possible pipe bomb; bomb squad called in

The Freeborn County courthouse was evacuated Friday afternoon after authorities discovered what appeared to be a pipe bomb brought in with a gun lock box that was seized from a traffic stop.

Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea said employees were evacuated a little after 3 p.m. following the discovery of the device. Inmates in the Freeborn County jail were placed on lockdown and moved to the south end of the jail, which is furthest in the building from the device.

Shea said he didn’t expect the bomb to affect more than the room it’s in if it goes off, but made the decision for safety measures.

The St. Paul Bomb Squad has been called in to assist in the removal of the device and is expected to arrive by 6 p.m.

Many of the employees went home for the weekend when they were asked to evacuate, and a few were escorted back in to retrieve their personal belongings. Dispatchers were moved to another location.

A press release states a local man, whose name has not been released, was arrested on traffic-related charges tied to the case. In his car, authorities found the gun lock box, and when they opened it up found the device.

Check back for more information as it is available.

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