June 3, 2021 – West Bend, WI – A bomb sniffing dog was searching the bushes, ball diamond and bandstand at Regner Park around 7:30 p.m. Thursday night as law enforcement responded to a reported bomb threat.
Around 7 p.m. West Bend Police posted on social media:
On June 3, 2021 at about 4:00pm the West Bend Police Department received a call of two suspicious items in Regner Park. Police responded and secured the area. A music event in the park that was scheduled for later in the evening was cancelled. The Milwaukee County Bomb Squad was contacted to assist, they are responding and nothing more is known at this time.”
Dist. 4 alderman Randy Koehler issued a statement. “I have had several calls tonight regarding a potential bomb threat in the Regner Park area. It is very concerning to me that on a night of celebration to begin our summer season, someone took it upon themselves to threaten harm.
“I can assure you our Police Department will do everything in its power to find the source of this threat. We as a community will stand strong and move forward in the safest way possible. Do not let this deter us from celebrating the many wonderful events coming up,” said Koehler.
Even though the music was cancelled tonight, The Garden Lounge is open and offering $6 martinis and there is a magician at The Boardroom until 11 p.m.
Initial story at 5:30 p.m. – There’s a heavy presence of law enforcement between N. Main Street in downtown West Bend and Regner Park as reports circulate of a reported bomb threat.
Calls have been made to police and so far that threat has not yet been confirmed.
Both music events scheduled for tonight in the downtown and at Regner Park have been canceled.
Craig Larsen with West Bend Baseball Association said contractors have been asked to leave the work site at Carl M. Kuss Field.
The civic groups that were supposed to help at the beer tent downtown said the main focus is at Regner Park and the downtown event was shut down as a precaution.
People walking away from the downtown were leaving in disgust. “Things just start opening back up and then this,” they said.
This is the second time this year a bomb threat has been called in to West Bend. The other incident was reported several months ago at Pick n’ Save north. Nothing ever came of that report
So far no injuries have been reported.
This is a working story and more information will be posted as details become available.
photos courtesy Jeremy Hahn