MINOT — The Ward County Sheriff's Department says today at approximately 10:40 a.m. the Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office reported that they received a phone call from a man making a bomb and assassination threat to the Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office and Judges. Due to the threat, the Ward County Courthouse and Administration Building were evacuated.
Investigators with the department were able to quickly determine that the phone call came from an inmate in the Ward County Detention Center. The inmate was identified as David Diaz, 38. Diaz has been in custody since February 7, 2022 for multiple felony offenses. Diaz was placed under arrest and charged with Terrorizing.
The Minot Area Bomb Team and Minot Air Force Base Explosives Ordinance Disposal responded and conducted a search of the courthouse. No explosives were located, and the buildings began re-opening at approximately 1:00 p.m.
Diaz remains in custody of the Ward County Detention Center.