Kohl’s in Oak Creek evacuated for bomb threat, no credible threat found

The Kohl’s department store in Oak Creek was evacuated and closed Friday afternoon after receiving a bomb threat that police later determined was not a credible threat, according to a press release issued by the Oak Creek Police Department.

Oak Creek Police received reports of the bomb threat at Kohl’s, 9035 S. Howell Ave., about 2:15 p.m. Friday, one of several stores across the United States to receive threats on Friday.

In Oak Creek, store managers evacuated and closed the Kohl’s on South Howell Avenue, police said. Several other businesses in the area also evacuated and closed “out of an abundance of caution,” while Oak Creek Police and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office explosive detection canine unit searched the buildings.

“At this time, there is no physical evidence to substantiate there was a credible threat to public safety,” an emailed news release said.

Employees of both Kohl’s locations and the next door Target in Oak Creek, that also closed and evacuated, were instructed by management not to respond to WISN 12 News’ requests for comment.

“It was intense. There were lots of officers around, they had all the entrances blocked, they were stopping cars,” said Twan Dam, who owns a Penzoil Plus across from the Oak Creek Kohl’s location. “(Police) wouldn’t let one of my employees in until he gave some ID and stuff.”

A Kohl’s store in Milwaukee, at 27th Street and Loomis Road, also was evacuated “out of an abundance of caution,” WISN reported. Kohl’s stores in several other states, including Florida, Kentucky and Indiana, also reported receiving bomb threats on Friday, according to TV news reports.

In Oak Creek, several businesses near Kohl’s also decided to temporarily close while law enforcement searched the area, according to the release.