WELCOME, Md. - On Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006 at 10:09 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Officers responded to Zion Baptist Church at 8105 Annapolis Woods Road in Welcome for the report of a bomb threat. Investigation revealed a suspect called the church and made the threat.
Upon arrival at the church, the Reverend advised he wanted to evacuate and close the building. Officers assisted in the evacuation. Afterwards, Sgt. V. Weaver, Cpl. R. Leukhardt and their K9 partners searched the building. They did not locate any explosives or suspicious items.
Investigators believe the call was made from a payphone located at Best One Food Stores in Seat Pleasant, Md. Seat Pleasant is located inside the Washington, D.C. Beltway on Central Avenue close to Capitol Heights.
Although the church was the victim of a hate crime in September, the caller did not indicate the threat was racially or religiously motivated or that the threat was related to the September incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Charles County Sheriff’s Office at 301-932-2222. Officer W. Saunders is investigating.