Photo by Gage Vota Shoppers return to Walmart after a bomb threat caused them to evacuate.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – One person is in custody after multiple bomb threats were called into St. Clairsville area businesses.

Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack said that the bomb threats began at Walmart in St. Clairsville’s Ohio Valley Plaza was evacuated on Tuesday afternoon.

Richland Township police chief Michael Troullos said that around 1:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to Walmart for a bomb threat that was called into the store.

“Upon arrival, we evacuated the store and contacted Wheeling Police’s explosives K9, who came and did a search of the store and nothing was found in the building so it was opened back for business,” Troullos said.

The Richland Township Police Department, Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, and Wheeling Police Department arrived on scene with Cumberland Trail Fire District standing by.

Zusack said that due to the quick hard work of his office there’s one individual in custody but he declined to comment on the name of the person in custody.

He added that his office will release a statement on Wednesday.