Threat evacuates Walmart; no bomb found

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WOOD) - Police are looking for a man who they say might be connected to a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a Kent County Walmart. No bomb was found and the store has since been reopened.

A man called the business around 7:30 a.m., stating a bomb was in one of the store's bathrooms, according to the sheriff's department. The Alpine Township fire chief told 24 Hour News 8 the caller may have made some kind of demand for money as well.

As a precaution, the sheriff's and fire departments evacuated the building, 3999 Alpine Avenue NW in Comstock Park, of shoppers and employees. Officials said about 75 people were taken out into the parking lot and kept approximately 100 to 200 feet away from the building.

Then around 9 a.m., deputies rushed to the back of the Walmart store as a man wearing a red shirt was spotted running away from the building. Witnesses said he ran into some corn fields just off Cordes Avenue.

Authorities are not sure who this person is -- if he is an employee, shopper, someone living in the neighborhood or if he has anything to do with the bomb threat.

State police K-9 units were brought in to search both the building and corn fields.

The Walmart was reopened around 10 a.m. as it was considered safe for people to go back inside.