Pr. George's Complex Evacuated After Bomb Threat

A Prince George's County police station and other buildings in a government complex in Hyattsville were briefly evacuated today after a bomb threat, and a nearby portion of Rhode Island Avenue was closed for part of the afternoon, police said.

Maj. Kevin Davis, a county police commander, said a bomb threat was made to the courthouse by telephone about 2 p.m. Officers evacuated the building and began a sweep of the facility.

Davis said police found a suspicious van in a parking garage under the facility. The van had out-of-state license plates, and suitcases were visible inside.

At that point, Davis said, the adjacent District 1 police station and other nearby buildings in the government complex also were evacuated and the county's bomb squad was called in.

Rhode Island Avenue was closed in both directions, and traffic near the 4900 block, about a mile from the District line, was gridlocked.

A short time later, however, the owners of the van -- a father and son -- arrived at the scene. Davis said it appeared the two were at the courthouse to attend traffic court.