Smith’s and Newpark Town Center reopen to the public after bomb threat hoax

Smith's Supermarket in Kimball Junction. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah — A bomb threat yesterday evening at the Smith’s grocery store in Kimball Junction was found to be a hoax.

According to a police report from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the manager of the Smith’s was contacted by an anonymous male, who advised he planted a device inside the store’s building.

The suspect requested a specific amount of money be transferred to gift cards, or the device would be detonated. The Utah Department of Public Safety Bomb Squad and K9 Unit searched the building and it was declared safe.

The SCSO asked the public to avoid the Newpark Town Center and Ute Boulevard areas while they investigated the scene.

Eyewitnesses reported that Smith’s, Vessel Kitchen, and other Kimball Junction businesses were evacuated by police around 8:30 p.m.

Two hours later the SCSO issued a statement indicating that the threat was indeed a hoax.

“We have confirmed there is no bomb threat to the public. We also received information that there has been a statewide hoax of this nature going around,” said a statement from the SCSO. “The area has been re-opened to the public. Thank you to our fellow public safety agencies for their support and thank you for your patience.”