Southwest RivCo Patients Feel The Pain Of Bomb Hoax In Canceled Appointments

MURRIETA, CA — Reports of a bomb at a medical office building in Murrieta were proven unfounded, according to the department. Murrieta Police provided a massive response to reports of a bomb threat near Rancho Springs Medical Center on Tuesday morning, disclosed by a telecommunications security provider in Riverside County. Approximately 10 medical offices were evacuated during the incident, as patients still scramble to reschedule appointments.

Shortly after 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a potential threat at the 25400 block of Medical Center Drive, according to the Murrieta Police Lt. Miguel Garcia.

The unclear report of threats to medical buildings in Riverside County led to eleven offices receiving threat notices. All eleven facilities were fully evacuated. Numerous Riverside County law enforcement agencies conducted the precautionary evacuations across the county, Garcia said.

A command post was immediately established by the Murrieta police and fire departments.

"Authorities conducted a thorough investigation of the premises, including the interior and exterior of the building, the parking area, and the rooftop. No suspicious device was found, and the threat was determined to be unfounded," according to Garcia.

There were no reports of any arrests, and the reports were ruled to be "swatting."

"The Murrieta Police Department emphasizes that making false emergency reports is dangerous and illegal. Such actions divert critical public safety resources, cause unnecessary fear, and significantly disrupt essential operations," the police department said in a statement. "These impacts are especially serious at medical facilities, where interruptions can directly affect patient care."

Anyone with information regarding the report was urged to contact the Murrieta Police Department Communication Center at 951-696-3615.

Clinics across the county, including Riverside, Murrieta, Eastvale, and Temescal Valley, evacuated due to the bomb hoax, according to police statements.

In total, more than 900 employees were evacuated, and hundreds of patients' appointments were canceled, according to multiple media outlets. The echoes of those rescheduled appointments was still being felt Thursday at medical offices across those cities.

Related:

RivCo Clinics Targeted By Bomb Threat Hoax, Forcing Mass Evacuations: Police