A bomb threat placed Tuesday had three downtown buildings and the surrounding blocks evacuated as police preformed a routine search during the noontime lunch hour.

At 12:39 p.m. Tuesday a bomb threat was called in to 911 on City Hall, the Vicksburg Police Department and the Warren County Courthouse, Vicksburg Warren 911 director Church Tate said.

As a precaution, buildings on the four blocks between City Hall and the police department were evacuated and streets were closed to through traffic for a little less than an hour, Vicksburg police Lt. Troy Kimble said. Following protocol, the area was secured within minutes and a K9 search was executed in all three buildings and around the perimeter before each one was deemed clear and reopened, Vicksburg police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“It disrupted the operations out here at the police department as well as the City Hall. We had people at work. We had court going on,” he said. “It was very inconvenient.”

Tuesday afternoon police were working to locate a suspect, and the investigation was ongoing. Kimble said the suspect could face charges for misusing 911, calling in a threat, and depending on the circumstances of the case, there could be additional charges.

“We are currently investigation who made that call,” Armstrong said, adding the suspect would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Sheriff Martin Pace said he also has investigators working on the case.

Any with information regarding the crime is encouraged the call the Vicksburg Police Department 601-636-2511 or Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477.