The Regional Forensic Center building downtown was evacuated Wednesday morning after a janitor found the first of what turned out to be three explosive devices.
Seven employees, who were working at the building located near the Interstate 240 Madison exit ramp at 1060 Madison, were evacuated shortly before 10 a.m. after a janitor cleaning the perimeter of the building discovered the first device.
Shelby County medical examiner O.C. Smith said he was asked by a member of the custodial staff to examine what he believed was a bomb. Smith said after viewing the device he was sure it was some sort of explosive weapon.
“One of the attendees called me and said one of the groundskeepers found what looked like a bomb,” Smith said. “I looked, and sure enough it was.”
Smith said he called the police department Bomb Squad after he saw the device. The Bomb Squad arrived with bomb sniffing dogs to examine the building. The Bomb Squad took the devices for examination. Employees were back to work inside the building by 1:30 p.m.
The Regional Forensic Center is home to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Autopsies are performed there, and Smith said there is nothing in the building that could be of any use or harm to anyone.
Smith said so far no connection has been made to the Katherine Smith case. Smith, a former driver’s license examiner, died mysteriously in February after authorities discovered she sold false identifications to five men of Middle Eastern descent with New York ties.
“There is almost nothing here that cannot be replaced tomorrow,” Smith said.
Smith said he is not even sure if the devices were intended to harm someone or something inside the building.
“From where (the devices) were found, we are not sure we were the intended targets,” Smith said.
Smith said that while he has received threats before, he has not received any threats recently.
Smith said he would talk to county officials about increasing security in and around the building. However, Smith said there is already adequate security at the facility.
“The building is already secure,” Smith said. “People can’t just walk in and out of here.”
When asked if there was any security video footage of the person or persons who planted the device, Smith smiled and said, “We would not divulge that.”
Authorities have not yet determined the content of the devices and have no suspects at this time.
