Brooklyn Walmart threatened via two-way radio, employees harassed for weeks

BROOKLYN, Ohio - Brooklyn police say the threat at the Brookpark Road Walmart was made using the store’s two-way radio.

Just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Brooklyn Walmart store was evacuated after managers were alerted to a threat, according to a store spokeswoman. Police searched the store and the public was allowed back in at 6:15 p.m.

On Thursday, Brooklyn Police Chief Scott Mielke said the threat came in through two-way radio after someone may have figured out the store’s frequency. Someone has also been harassing store employees for a couple of weeks using the radio system, Mielke said.

Police are working with Walmart employees to come up with a suspect. Charges will be filed if there is an arrest in the case, Mielke said.

Numerous Walmart stores across the Midwest have received threatening phone calls resulting in evacuations. ABC News reported that 11 stores in Missouri and Kansas were threatened over the past several days, but no explosives were found by police.

Walmart released the following statement after the threat in Brooklyn:

"It's shameful there are people making these types of false threats. It is disrespectful to the communities our stores serve to have their law enforcement teams have to use their resources chasing a hoax. While it's important to note that, so far, nothing has come of any of these calls, we will continue to take them seriously to help ensure the safety of our customers and associates. We are providing information to help the authorities with their investigation and will continue work them to help them catch those responsible."