Investigations by Virginia State Police (VSP) after a bomb threat was called into the Prince Edward County Courthouse Tuesday yielded in no explosives being found. Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office is investigating further into the situation, releases from the county and Prince Edward County Administrator Wade Bartlett confirmed.

The county will also be taking steps to increase security at the courthouse, a Wednesday release from the county cited.

The measures, which take effect Thursday, include “having all employees and the general public enter the building from the Third Street door through a metal detector. All bags, purses and backpacks will be subject to search. The building will be examined at the beginning of each day before it is open to employees or the public to confirm no threat exists.”

“Bartlett sent information out to the courts, county departments and state agencies on Wednesday evening informing them that the security measures are heavily weighted for the interests of the safety of all those who work and visit the courthouse,” the release noted.

The bomb threat was called into the Prince Edward County Combined Courts Office at 12:09 p.m. Tuesday. Employees at the courthouse were evacuated.

Virginia State Police deployed bomb agents and canines, who searched the building for explosives.

Farmville Police Department and Longwood Police Department assisted in the case Tuesday, directing traffic away from the courthouse. Main Street and South Street were closed between noon and 3 p.m.

The courthouse remained closed Tuesday afternoon, but the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors remained on schedule Tuesday evening.

This is the second bomb threat the courthouse has received in less than two months. A prior bomb threat was reported Thursday, May 24. After investigation of that incident, no bomb was found.