An investigation continues into a series of bomb threats phoned into Iola businesses Friday night and Saturday.
The first threat, called into Iola Walmart, prompted store officials to order a mandatory evacuation Friday.
Iola police officers, assisted by Allen County sheriff’s deputies, closed off a portion of North State Street until a pair of Kansas Highway Patrol dogs capable of detecting explosives were summoned to the scene.
Dogs were brought in from Topeka and Independence to search for explosives.
After none was found, the scene was cleared at about 11 p.m., Iola Police Chief Jared Warner said.
Store officials at Orscheln Farm & Home and Dollar General also shuttered their businesses when notified of the threat.
Three more threats were phoned into other businesses Saturday.
The first was phoned into The Greenery at about 10:30 a.m.; the second to B & B Cafe at 11 o’clock; and the third to the Monkey Butt Salloon at noon.
Those business owners elected to stay open while store employees and police officers searched together for possible explosives.
Again, none were found.
Warner said officers are investigating whether the threats were related to Friday’s call.
He declined to get into specifics because of the ongoing investigation.
Those with information regarding these crimes or any other crime should be relayed to Allen County Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS (8477); www.allencountycs.org by clicking on the tab “Submit a Web Tip” and filling in the blanks; or by sending a text to the word “Crimes” (274637).
There are instructions on how to text a tip located in the “Text a Tip” page. Any tip leading to the resolution of a crime makes the tipster eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
Informaton also may be phoned into the Iola Police Department at 365-4960.
An aggravated criminal threat, classified by the state as a level 5, person felony, could be punishable by a prison sentence of up to more than 11 years, depending on the defendants prior criminal history. First-time offenders could face a prison sentence of 34 months.
