The Walmart store on Kelley Highway in Fort Smith was evacuated because of a bomb threat Thursday afternoon. But Fire Marshal Ronnie Rogers called the incident a hoax.
Police received a call from a man claiming there was a bomb inside a dumpster behind the store, Sgt. Daniel Grubbs with the Fort Smith Police Department said.
Employee and customers were evacuated from the store around 3 p.m. The parking lot was also blocked off, eyewitnesses said. The Fort Smith Fire Department and Bomb Squad investigated the threat and cleared the scene by 4 p.m. They also checked the building and found nothing.
Officials checked the store's security tapes and didn't see anyone going through the dumpsters, Rogers said.
The case will now be turned over to the police department who will hopefully be able to trace the call, Rogers said.
The store has since re-opened.
If you have any information on this incident call the River Valley Crime Stoppers tip line at (479) 78-CRIME.
