Crime & Law
Arrest Made After Illinois State Capitol Bomb Threat
Illinois State Capitol. (WTTW News)
Authorities have arrested a woman who allegedly called in a bomb threat to the Illinois State Capitol Building and a second facility in Springfield last month.
Illinois State Police on Friday announced that Gabrielle Williams, 23, had been taken into custody and is currently being held in the Sangamon County Jail pending a pre-trial detention hearing. She was charged with a felony count of disorderly conduct.
“We take the security of the Capitol Complex and the safety of its employees, public officials, and visitors extremely seriously,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a statement. “We will never tolerate threats of violence and will do everything within our power to hold those responsible and accountable for their actions.”
According to police, Williams allegedly called the state Department of Human Services on April 22 and informed them bombs had been installed at the State Capitol and a public aid office building.
After learning of the threat, Capitol Police cleared the grounds, while ISP and the Springfield Police Department secured the other state facility until a hazardous device unit could clear that building.
No explosives were found at either site.
State police said that after reviewing cellular data and conducting interviews, special agents were able to identify and locate Williams.
“ISP and our law enforcement partners in Springfield take every threat seriously,” State Police Director Brendan Kelly said, “and will track down and arrest those responsible for this criminal conduct.”
