UPDATE: All Clear Given After Bomb Threat in Somerset

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday evening, a call came into the Fairfield County 911 services from a suspected male claiming to have a bomb and hostages at 243 North Columbus Street in Somerset.

Perry County Sheriff William Barker says that they were led to believe that the supposed bomb was propane in nature.

According to Sheriff Barker, "Early information that he was requesting a ransom of $5,000 within a 5 minute period or he was going to detonate the explosive device. Well time passed and that never happened. Thanks to good fortune."

A perimeter was set up around the home, and about an hour later contact was made with two females inside the house. They were convinced to come outside. The first woman to emerge from the home was the owner, followed by her step-daughter. The occupants of the home are not believed to have any connection with the bomb threat.

The home was searched, and no sign of the caller or bomb was found inside the house. A firearm belonging to the male owner of the home was found but not seized. Chief Barker says that the Somerset Police Department will handle the incident from here.

"Chief VanDermark and his guys will obviously sit down and finish the interviews with the people that live in that house there and see where that goes from there."

Somerset and Crooksville Police Departments, Perry County Sheriffs Office, Muskingum County Sheriffs Department’s SWOT team and hostage negotiator all responded to the scene along with the local fire departments, Franklin County Bomb Squad and the State Highway Patrol.

It is unknown who made the initial call and threat. An investigation is still ongoing.