A package delivered to the wrong address caused the evacuation of the Hill County Courthouse and a heavy law enforcement presence Tuesday afternoon, July 15.
Hill County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Westmoreland said that a plain-clothed individual in an unmarked vehicle placed a package on the eastern steps of the courthouse and left the location. “Typically, when package deliveries are made, we see individuals in company vehicles wearing some type of uniform or clothing item that may identify them as delivery workers,” said Westmoreland. “This was not the case in this matter.”
Deputies responded at approximately 4:30 p.m. and reviewed surveillance video, which Westmoreland said further increased suspicion about the package.
The package was eventually obtained and x-rayed by McLennan County Bomb Squad. Westmoreland said that when the package was opened, the contents were found to be harmless.
“It is believed that the carrier delivered the item to the wrong location,” said Westmoreland. “How the carrier ended up mistaking the courthouse for a private residence is beyond us, but considering the events that occurred following the delivery, we hope this type of mistake doesn’t occur again.”
Hill County Sheriff Hunter Barnes expressed appreciation to McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsboro Department of Public Safety and the Hill County Precinct 3 constable’s office for assistance at the scene.
“While we’re happy to report a good outcome of the situation, I’d like the public to know and understand that the sheriff’s office takes these types of incidents very seriously,” said Westmoreland. “The safety of the courthouse, its employees and the public that frequents the location for various business each day is paramount to us.”
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