McCurtain County Memorial Hospital has been cleared after a bomb threat was made on Tuesday claiming that unless the hospital administration publicly denounce individuals with local county government, the bomb would be detonated.
The hospital said the threat came in around 2:40 p.m. from an unknown person claiming there was a bomb placed at the hospital on the night of Apr. 17, 2023.
“This threat maintained unless the hospital administration publicly denounced individuals in our county government, the bomb would be detonated,” said the hospital in a press release.
“CEO Brian Whitfield immediately ordered the evacuation of the hospital and that law enforcement be notified. The Executive leadership team met immediately and determined patient acuity for all patients in the Emergency Room and the Medical/Surgical Unit. It was determined that two patients in the Emergency Room needed immediate medical attention. They were stabilized and transports were immediately arranged to send these patients to area hospitals, by air transport.”
Nine other patients were moved to an off-site location with a team of doctors, nurses and other staff accompanying those patients – along with a mobile Advanced Life Support unit from McCurtain County EMS.
After approximately two hours, hospital administration was advised that the building was clear and that patients and staff could return.
“Within 20 minutes of the all-clear, patients were back in their rooms, meals were ready and no further incidents occurred.”
The threat refers to an audio recording released by the McCurtain Gazette News (click here to read more), who claims the voices discussing “beating, burying and killing” two journalists were those of Sheriff Kevin Clardy, Commissioner Mark Jennings, Investigator Alicia Manning and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix.
The McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Tuesday, claiming many of the recordings have yet to be duly authenticated or validated and preliminary information indicates that the audio has been altered. (Click here to read more)
After the hospital was cleared of any threats, the CEO ordered all but one entrance/exit to the hospital closed. Vehicles have been placed to block all other entrances/exits to the property, leaving the Highway 70/Lincoln Road entrance the only route to/from the hospital.
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the hospital remained on lockdown. With this, all outpatient services and access were cancelled or limited.
On Thursday, April 20, 2023, all outpatient services and operations will return to normal; however, certain security measures are in place.
- All persons entering / exiting will be required to do so through the Emergency Room waiting entrance. This includes all employees of the hospital.
- No bags, backpacks, purses or other totes will be allowed in the hospital for any reason.
- All outpatients coming for labs or radiology screenings will need to provide a photo ID at the Emergency Room waiting / Registration Department.
- The MMH Cafe will remain closed to the public through Friday, April 21, 2023.
- Only patients seeking medical treatment in the Emergency Room will be allowed in, unless, the patient is a minor under the age of 18 and may be accompanied by one adult.
- All visitation is limited to (2) two visitors only, per patient, per day.
“The hospital administration wishes to make it extremely clear: Just as Governor Stitt stated in his recent public statement, the behavior exhibited by the county commissioner, sheriff, jail administrator and investigator on a recording released to the public over the weekend is unacceptable and has no place in our town or anywhere else. The hospital has been providing healthcare to the residents of this great county for more than 50 years and, while we have worked with our county government on many projects in an effort to improve the health care of the resident of and visitors to McCurtain County, the events as of late are by no means supported by nor condoned by the hospital. As a hospital, we only desire to be here for our community and meet our patients’ medical needs. McCurtain County is a great place to live and work, as well as raise families.”
The hospital continued, “The administration wishes to thank all of our city, county and state law enforcement that responded to our call for assistance. To the men and women of McCurtain County EMS, AirEvac and others who was there when we needed help transporting patients. Also, to District 3 Commissioner, John Wayne Williams, who assisted with getting additional assistance providing security to the hospital from the great men and women of the Choctaw Tribal Police (thanks to the Choctaw Nation).To the employees who worked together to make the removal of patients so smoothly, thank-you. And, to the off-site location that opened your doors to us, we are extremely grateful. Finally, to all who called to check on the hospital, our patients and offered assistance anywhere we needed it – thank-you as well (Steve McGee, Cody McDaniel, Mayor Craig Young and so many others).”
McCurtain Memorial Hospital and its administration will have no further comments at this time except for updating with any news of public health importance.
