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Chrystal Gail Cole of Kingsport

Bomb Threat Closes Courthouse; Suspect in Custody by Afternoon

From staff reports It looked like a routine day in the Scott County Courthouse on Monday as another bomb threat forced the evacuation of the building.

But this time around, law enforcement officers discovered the perpetrator and arrested her before the day's end.

Scott County Sheriff John Puckett announced that a joint investigation involving the Scott County Sheriff's Office, Gate City and Weber City Police Departments and the Virginia State Police resulted in the arrest of a Kingsport, Tenn. woman for making the bomb threat to the courthouse.

Chrystal Gail Cole, age 27, of 1920 Bowater Drive, Kingsport, Tenn., was arrested Monday afternoon at the Scott County Department of Social Services in Gate City after she was connected to the call placed to the courthouse that originated in Kingsport. Officials suspect the incident occurred because Cole was upset with the county's court system.

According to law enforcement officials, a female called the Scott County Circuit Court Clerk's office around 11:21 a.m., stating there was a bomb in the courthouse. The courthouse was evacuated shortly afterwards and police blocked the sidewalks on both sides of the street while officials searched the premises. A bomb-sniffing dog was even brought to go over the courthouse.

The call was traced to a pay phone at the Valero gas station at Stone Drive and Pinebrook Drive in Kingsport. Kingsport Police Department provided phone and video footage from a surveillance camera at the gas station and the suspect was discovered on the footage.

She was arrested at the Scott County Department of Social Services around 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon where she was visiting her children.

Cole faces a possible prison sentence of one to 10 years and up to a $2,500 fine for the class 5 felony charge of making a bomb threat to a place of assembly. She is currently being held without bond in the Southwest Regional Jail in Duffield. She was arraigned yesterday morning and may face additional charges as the investigation continues.

Motorists, who are used to traveling along the main portion of Gate City's downtown area, were re-routed for about two hours as two blocks of Jackson Street were closed during the search.

The Gate City Fire Department also provided assistance.

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