Police investigate Walmart bomb threat

The Kalispell Police Department received a report of a bomb threat to the Kalispell Walmart at 2:20 p.m., Wednesday, but the store quickly reopened after law enforcement investigated.

According to information from the department, an alert was sent out soon after to ask people to avoid the area during the investigation.

More information from the police indicated investigators were able to determine the phone call had been made from an internet-based phone number that appears to have been stolen from a legitimate Montana number.

The caller at that number was cooperative with investigators and is not suspected in the incident. It is believed at this time the call was of the “swatting” nature trying to elicit an emergency response from law enforcement.

After an investigation and consultation with Walmart management, the store opened back up to the public at about 3 p.m.