Bismarck, N.D. – A man was taken into custody following a bomb threat at a downtown bank Tuesday morning. At approximately 11:17 a.m., 51-year-old Robert Walsh entered Bravera Bank in the 400 block of North 4th Street and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack.
Bismarck Police officers responded immediately, evacuating the building and establishing a secure perimeter. The Bismarck Police Bomb Squad and West Dakota SWAT Team were deployed, and a trained negotiator made contact with Walsh by phone. After a brief standoff, Walsh exited the building and was taken into custody without incident.
Thorough searches by SWAT and K9 units confirmed that the backpack did not contain any explosives. Walsh was transported to the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center and faces pending charges related to the incident.
The Bismarck Police Department thanked Bravera Bank staff, the public, partner first responders, and the Bismarck Public Works Department for their cooperation and assistance during the response.
