By Ivy Secrest and Noah Zahn
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

CHEYENNE — Things are expected to be back to normal today at the Wyoming State Capitol after the building was evacuated and closed most of Tuesday for the investigation of a suspected improvised explosive device.

Authorities evacuated the building around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday following reports of a suspected IED inside the Capitol. In a news release sent out around 6 p.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol public information officer Aaron Brown said the object was found by a pedestrian on the surface of the large state seal embedded in the concrete in front of the building, facing 24th Street.

That person took the object into the historic building, where WHP troopers were alerted, the release said. The neighboring Herschler Building was placed on a shelter-in-place status as people were evacuated from the Capitol.

At approximately 12:07 p.m., the area of 21st to 26th streets between Carey and Central avenues was blocked off as drones and K-9 units swept the area.

At approximately 2:35 p.m., all streets but 26th were reopened, while 26th was reopened at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to the WHP release.

The Capitol remained closed for the remainder of Tuesday as authorities continued to investigate the suspicious package. The community was advised to avoid the Capitol complex throughout this active investigation.

“It’s important that people know that behind the Legislature is a dedicated team of staff that help us day in and day out,” Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, posted Tuesday afternoon on Facebook. “They are tireless public servants to the people of Wyoming who do not deserve to be concerned about suspected explosive devices.

“We must look toward solutions on how we can ensure the safety of our Capitol for members of the public and our staff. It is, after all, The People’s House — it belongs to YOU.”

Reports of the suspected IED interrupted the regular meeting of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission. According to a report by WyoFile.com, the commission’s executive director, Anthony Apollo, was mid-sentence when the meeting came to a halt due to the evacuation around 10 a.m. At 10:49 a.m., WHP posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the incident, instructing the public to avoid the area.

A state employee told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that meeting attendees were informed of the evacuation by the WHP and then evacuated to the Herschler Building.

Gov. Mark Gordon, State Treasurer Curt Meier and State Auditor Kristi Racines were all in attendance at the meeting.

 

Response

During the initial response to the situation, a temporary WHP command post was set up on the north side of the Capitol/Herschler complex.

“Everyone’s just trying to work as thoroughly as they can right now,” Brown said Tuesday morning from that location. “We’re trying to keep everyone safe in the meantime.”

Leaders of the WHP, the Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Fire Rescue stood on the north end of the Herschler Building next to a WHP command vehicle, while law enforcement officials monitored the Capitol complex.

Personnel paced the grounds with K-9s; other law enforcement were seen inspecting the roofs of the Herschler Building, while state employees continued to enter and exit that building throughout the afternoon.

The incident was being handled through a multi-agency response, including the WHP, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, the CPD/LCSO joint bomb squad, the FBI, ATF, Department of Homeland Security and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Medical personnel from American Medical Response were also present out of an abundance of precaution, though no injuries were reported, according to Brown.

Throughout the afternoon, local residents continued to walk around the perimeter of the Capitol Complex, some unsure of what was happening and others saying they initially thought it was some kind of law enforcement practice or exercise.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether the suspected device was actually an explosive.

“Anytime you have anything like that, you want to treat it with the absolute utmost caution and make sure you’re keeping people’s lives safe,” Brown said. “Even if it ends up being fake, we want to be very, very judicious and very intentional with keeping people safe.”

Brown confirmed that the Capitol was expected to be open Wednesday. He could not confirm at the time of publication what the threat was, if any.

Information is still being sought in connection with this incident, Brown said in the release. Anyone with information, images or recordings of suspicious activity in the early morning hours of Oct. 21, is asked to contact DCI by heading to the agency’s website, wyomingdci.wyo.gov, and clicking the dedicated Capitol incident link on the main page.

The above story may be used ONLY by members of the Wyoming News Exchange or with the express consent of the newspaper of its origin.