MT. PLEASANT — Employees head back to work at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant after a bomb threat Wednesday afternoon. It was like any other day at the casino until a call came in that turned the resort upside down. “The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department at approximately 1:30 this afternoon received a bomb threat,” said Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier.
Six other law enforcement agencies were called and within minutes the resort was swarming with police ready to shut the area down.
Casino player Kim Jones drove an hour to get to the casino when she was turned away. “Yes we were coming here to the casino and we got up here and we saw all the police cars…a friend…was here earlier and was playing a slot and the (police) come in and told them they all have to leave,” said Jones.
“We had a bomb threat and they evacuated us very professionally and we’re dealing with it the best we can,” said evacuee Randy Thompson.
Frank Cloutier said the bomb scare was unlike any evacuation he’s ever seen. “We haven’t had an impact on the property to this magnitude,” Cloutier said.
The search continued for over six hours but no evidence of a bomb turned up. Kim Jones said she was cashing in on her own theory about what took place.”Because I think somebody just lost and was upset and it doesn’t surprise me,” said Jones.
The Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant has received the all clear signal to re-open after a bomb scare early Wednesday afternoon.
The business was evacuated just after 2 p.m. because of a bomb threat, according to a hotel spokesperson.
The spokesperson said Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police told the casino and resort that there was a threat of explosives, believed to include the resort only.
Because of the threat, officials at the casino and resort closed all gaming facilities at the casino. For the safety of their patrons, they relocated guests to the nearby Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center. Barricades were set up at all entrances to prevent new customers from entering the resort.
The casino was to re-open at 2 a.m. Thursday. Employees were called back to work for 12:01 a.m. Thursday
This message was posted on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Web site at 8:15 p.m.
Mount Pleasant, Mich. December 16, 2009 � 8:15PM – Tribal spokesman Frank Cloutier announced that law enforcement officials have given the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort the all clear signal after a massive search of the property related to a credible bomb threat did not uncover any explosives.
Employees of the resort have been called back to work beginning at 12:01AM Thursday and patrons would be allowed back into the resort by 2:00 AM.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s police department received an explosives threat against the Mount Pleasant facility at approximately 1:30PM and deployed tactical response teams quicky. The orderly, precautionary evacuation began at 3:15pm displacing approximately 2,000 patrons, 250 hotel guests and 700 resort employees. Hotel guests were shuttled to the Tribe’s sister property Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center for accommodations.
Tribal Council Chief Dennis V. Kequom, Sr. and the Council’s decision was made out of concern for the safety of patrons and associates. The Tribe’s commitment to a safe and secure environment for patrons and associates was evidenced by the quick response to the threat.
Responding to the resort in a coordinated effort were law enforcement officials from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Michigan State Police, Isabella County, City of Mount Pleasant, CMU, Saginaw County, East Lansing, MMR, EOC, Mark Griffis, MSU, and BAYANET.
This message was posted on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Web site at 6:15 p.m.
The Tribal Council is very concerned for the safety and well being of all of our associates and patrons which prompted the precautionary evacuation. At this time we are informing all associates to report to work at 12 midnight to begin preparations to re-open the facility. We would encourage them to call PBX before travelling to work to ensure that the back to work order is still in effect.
This message was posted on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Web site at 5:18 p.m.
As of 4:36 PM, the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and the Slot Palace have been successfully evacuated under our precautionary safety evacuation. Guests staying at the Soaring Eagle Casino resort have been shuttled to the Soaring Eagle Inn & Conference Center (formerly the Holiday Inn), 5665 E. Pickard Street in Mount Pleasant. All guests and employees have been cleared from the property. There is no estimated time when the facility will reopen.
This message was posted on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Web site just before 4 p.m.
The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been informed by local law enforcement that we are under threat of possible explosives threat on the resort property. It is not clear that this is a credible threat, but it is being treated as such. In the interest of the safety and security of our patrons, associates and business professionals the Tribal Council of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has ordered a preemptive evacuation of all Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort properties. Your Cooperation and patience is crucial during this precautionary evacuation. We repeat that this threat is not been deemed eminent and your cooperation will ensure we secure the safety of everyone involved as soon as possible.
Turtle Talk 
That is crazy. There was a bomb threat in Durango, CO yesterday that closed several schools, the Court, and Fort Lewis.