Sheriff: Two Hoax Bomb Threats in Westminster Tuesday (Updated)

Updated at 4:36 p.m. Tuesday.

Two bomb threats in Westminster Tuesday clogged traffic, shut down workplaces and disrupted the school day --- and both were determined to be a "hoax," by law enforcement officials.

Law enforcement officials said they do not believe the two incidents to be related.

Officials from the Carroll County Sheriff’s office said Carroll County Circuit Court officials received an anonymous phone call at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday claiming “an explosive device had been left in one of the court buildings."

Officials determined the threat was a hoax, but not until after court offices were closed for the day.

Also, West Middle School was evacuated Tuesday after a bomb threat, which officials later also determined to be a "hoax." William Winchester Elementary, located next to West Middle School, was also briefly on "modified lockdown."

A 13-year-old girl was charged in the incident.

The buildings for Circuit Court, 55 N. Court St. #253 in Westminster, and District Court, 101 N. Court St., were evacuated Tuesday and traffic in the areas, including Court Street, Greenwood Avenue and surrounding alleyways, were detoured while law enforcement investigated.

Traffic within the immediate area of the courthouse facilities was stopped for a total of five hours while officials investigated, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's department.

"Officers from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, Westminster Police, Howard County and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office used explosive detection canine teams and x-ray equipment to inspect the buildings," law enforcement said in a release, about the courthouse incident.

Officials earlier Tuesday called the courthouse threat "non-specific" and said they did not believe a concern to the public existed beyond the court complex.

Court offices will resume normal operations Wednesday, officials said.