Multiple Bomb Threat Incidents Lead to Arrest in Belmont County
St. Clairsville, Ohio - On March 24, 2026, law enforcement agencies across Belmont County responded to a series of bomb threats targeting multiple businesses in the St. Clairsville and Richland Township areas, resulting in a large-scale coordinated public safety response and the subsequent arrest of an 18-year-old suspect. At approximately 1:30 p.m., officers from the Richland Township Police Department, along with deputies from the Belmont County Sheriff's Office and Cumberland Trail Fire Department, were dispatched to Walmart located at 50739 Valley Plaza Drive following a reported bomb threat. An unknown caller advised store personnel they had "10 minutes to evacuate" due to a bomb inside the building. Authorities conducted a full evacuation of employees and patrons. Bomb detection K9 units from the Wheeling Police Department assisted in a comprehensive search of the premises. No explosives were located. Later that afternoon, additional threats were reported at multiple locations, including Sheetz, Kroger, Whitesides, Unified Bank, West Texas Roadhouse, Denny's, and the Red Roof Inn. In several instances, the caller demanded money and threatened to detonate explosives if demands were not met. These incidents prompted further evacuations and coordinated responses by law enforcement and fire personnel. During the evacuation of Kroger, one individual was struck by a vehicle amid the evacuation response. The condition of the individual has not been released at this time. The Belmont County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Unit initiated a coordinated investigation into the series of threats. Detectives worked in conjunction with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Intelligence Fusion Center and cellular service providers to identify the suspect. Investigators determined that multiple threats originated from the same phone number. Through investigative efforts, the suspect was identified as Larry Allen Harvey, age 18, who was located at an area hotel St. Clairsville. 1 During the investigation, Harvey admitted to placing multiple calls to local businesses making bomb threats and demands for money. He stated that he made the calls "for fun" and monitored law enforcement response using a police scanner. In total, eight businesses were targeted during this series of threats. Harvey was transported to the Belmont County Jail. The case has been submitted to the Belmont County Prosecutor's Office for review of formal charges. He was booked into the jail on five (5) Counts of Making Terroristic Threats Felony 1 and five (5) counts of Inducing Panic Felony 3. Harvey's arraignment is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 8:30 AM, before Judge David Trouten. Harvey's current bond is One Million (1,000,000.00) dollars. This investigation involved coordinated efforts from the Belmont County Sheriff's Office, Richland Township Połice Department, St. Clairsville Police Department, Cumberland Trail Fire Department, Wheeling Police Department K9 Units, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The investigation remains ongoing. Read the full article