Westminster Woman Charged in Courthouse Bomb Threat

State Police and sheriff's detectives have charged a 30-year-old Westminster woman in a bomb threat that forced the closing of the District and Circuit courts, sheriff's officials said.

Serena Jones was held at the Carroll County Detention Center without bail on charges related to the threats and two unrelated warrants, according to Major Phillip Kasten of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department.  She will have a bail review hearing later tomorrow.

According to a news release from the Maryland State Police, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, troopers responded to a report of a bomb threat at the courthouses. 

The Circuit and District Court buildings were evacuated and traffic within the immediate area stopped while law enforcement officers from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State and Montgomery County Police used explosive detection canine teams to inspect the buildings.  The threat was found to be a hoax and both courts resumed operations by 1:30 p.m., according to the news release.

Jones was arrested at a relative’s residence last night without incident.  She is awaiting a hearing with the District Court Commissioner.