Woman Charged After Bomb Threat at Springfield Township Marc’s

A Springfield Township woman faces felony charges after allegedly leaving a suspicious package at a local grocery store and making threatening comments that prompted an evacuation and bomb squad response.

Officers from Springfield Township Police Department responded to Marc’s on E. Waterloo Road after a woman reportedly dropped off a purse and told a customer, “You better watch out, it might explode,” according to a police statement.

Authorities immediately evacuated the Marc’s store and neighboring businesses in the plaza as a precautionary measure. The Summit County Bomb Squad was called to the scene and conducted a thorough investigation, which determined no explosive device was present.

During the investigation, Officer Dan Beitzel spotted a woman walking nearby who matched the description from surveillance footage. Officers Jon McKenzie and Jordan McLean subsequently located the individual and took her into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as a 52-year-old township resident who lives on East Waterloo Road. She has been charged with Inducing Panic and Making False Alarms, both fifth-degree felonies, and was transported to the Summit County Jail.

“The safety of our community remains our top priority,” police officials stated while expressing gratitude to the Summit County Bomb Squad for their quick response and assistance.

The incident caused significant disruption to businesses in the shopping plaza, with customers and employees forced to evacuate while authorities secured the area. Stores were able to reopen after the all-clear was given by investigators.

Local residents expressed relief that the threat proved to be false, though many were concerned about the increasing number of such incidents in the area.

This case highlights the seriousness with which law enforcement treats potential threats to public safety, even when they ultimately prove unfounded.

This marks the second unusual incident in Springfield Township this week. Just days earlier, on May 5, Springfield Township Police made headlines when officers discovered a raccoon named “Chewy” holding a meth pipe during a routine traffic stop on South Arlington Road. That incident led to the arrest of a 55-year-old woman on drug possession charges after officers discovered methamphetamine and crack cocaine in her vehicle. The raccoon, which was unharmed, had the proper documentation to be legally owned as a pet in Ohio.