HAMPTON —Police here said the man who called in a bomb threat that caused an evacuation of the General District Courthouse Wednesday is the same man who robbed a Virginia Educators Credit Union in Newport News shortly before noon the same day.
Oscar Von Alston II, 31, of Newport News, is charged two counts of threatening to bomb. He is being held the Newport News Jail without bond.
Alsoton is also charged (in Newport News) with two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, wearing a mask in certain places and entering armed with intent to commit a felony.
Authorities said the threat report came in at 11:31 a.m. The Courthouse is in the 200 block of North King Street.
Police said the suspect “contacted the court and indicated an alleged threat to the courthouse.”
Hampton Police Officers and crews from the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, and as a precautionary measure, everyone inside the General District Courthouse were evacuated.
“A sweep of the courthouse was completed and there were no suspicious devices located,” said police Cpl. Ashley Jenrette.
Threatening to bomb is a class 5 felony which can carry a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than 10 years, and a fine of not more than $2,500.
RELATED STORY: Newport News man caught 15 minutes after allegedly robbing credit union
Police in Newport News said Alston, who was armed with a gun, went into the Virginia Educators Credit Union shortly before noon Wednesday, jumped the counter and took cash.
He was arrested during a traffic stop in the area of 74th Street and Chestnut Avenue 15 minutes later, police said.
