August 12, 2026

Police seek suspects in extortion attempts

The Albertson's store on Fifth Street was evacuated around 10 a.m. Wednesday after the store received a call from a man who threatened to detonate a bomb if employees did not leave him the store's cash outside.

A suspicious device found in a small box turned out to be an elaborate fake.

"It was a hoax," said police Lt. Hal Wood. "It was elaborately put together by someone to look like a bomb."

Later in the day, a Longs Drug store and a 7-11 store received similar threats.

Police have no suspects.

archive