Bomb threat empties Ponchatoula hospital

PONCHATOULA — Police investigated a bomb threat called into the United Medical Rehab Hospital on Wednesday, authorities reported.

At about 5 p.m., a man called 911 and said a bomb would go off at the hospital “in 58 minutes,” Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson said in a news release.

Ponchatoula Police, Ponchatoula Fire Department and Hammond Police responded and assisted staff at the hospital in conducting an evacuation of the building, Layrisson said. More than 50 people had to be evacuated, Layrisson said.

A search, aided by the Louisiana State Police Hazardous Materials team, found nothing out of the ordinary, Layrisson said.

The investigation is ongoing, he said.