Full Notification

June 21, 2019

Original Press Release
Bomb Threat Cass County Court Buildings

Cass County Sheriff Richard J. Behnke report that his office investigated a fraudulent bomb threat of the Cass County Courthouse on Friday June 21, 2019 at approx. 8:45am. Cass County Central Dispatch received two 9-1-1 phone calls indicating that a bomb had been placed in the Cass County Courthouse and would go off when the timer expired. Central Dispatch notified the Sheriff’s Office and Courthouse security and a decision to evacuate the building was put out to employees and visitors. It was also decided that the historic County Courthouse building, (known as the County Building) be evacuated as well.
The buildings were search by Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Security personnel without locating anything out of the ordinary. Assistance was requested of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office for use of their bomb/explosive detection K-9. The Berrien K-9 search of both building’s interior and exterior without locating any explosives or suspicious packages.
At approximately 11:45am employees and visitors were allowed back into the Law and Courts Building a resume a regular schedule. At approximately 12:30pm, employees and visitors were allowed back into the Cass County Building to resume normal business.
Since this event occurred deputies and detectives from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office have been following up on leads from the calls and other resources and believe an identification of the suspect in close.

Assisting at the scene were Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, Cassopolis Village Police, and Michigan State Police.

Anyone having any information about this incident is asked to contact the Cass County TIP line 800-462-9328, Cass County Central Dispatch 269-445-1560 or Crimestoppers, 574-288-7867. You may also text your tips to: Text CASS and your tip to 274637.

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE 7-16-19

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports on June 21, 2019 at approximately 08:44 a.m., Cass County Central Dispatch Center received a 911 call advising there was a bomb at the Courthouse. The Sheriff, Detectives, and Deputy’s responded to the Courthouse, and evacuated the buildings. After evacuating the buildings, the buildings were searched by department personnel and a bomb dog provided by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office. After determining the buildings were safe, employees returned to work around 12:15pm. Detectives with the Cass County Sheriffs Office and the Cass County Drug Team began the investigation of the call and after executing several search warrants developed a suspect.
On July 12th,2019 Patrick Kyle McMeeken was arrested and charged with three felony counts:

Count 1. False Report or Threat of Terrorism.
Count 2. Computers – using to commit a crime.
Count 3. Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.
Habitual offender Fourth offence Notice
If convicted, McMeeken faces up to a life sentence.

Anyone with information about this crime or any crime in Cass County is encouraged to call the Cass County Tip Line at 1-800-462-9328.