A 32-year-old man from Baltimore has been charged in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of the Washington County Circuit Court in Hagerstown on February 2, 2026. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges in a news release on February 11.
Jamil Nicholas Gardner faces several serious charges, including intimidating or influencing a juror, which is classified as a felony. Additionally, he is charged with two counts of making a false statement regarding a destructive device, two counts of threatening arson, one count of making a threat of mass violence, and one count of threatening damage to a court office.
The bomb threat was reported to court employees via phone calls made between 7:30 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. on the day of the incident, indicating that a bomb was present in the courthouse and that a judge would be harmed. In response, court security measures were immediately implemented, leading to the evacuation of the courthouse, including jurors, and the closure of the facility for the day.
Law enforcement officials, including K-9 units, conducted a thorough search of the premises but found no explosive devices. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, traced the threatening calls to a prepaid cellphone. Detectives were able to identify the retail outlet where the phone was purchased and subsequently obtained surveillance footage that led to Gardner's identification as the buyer.
Gardner was arrested on February 11 in Howard County, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Maryland State Apprehension Team. He is currently being held at the Washington County Detention Center.
The seriousness of threats against judicial entities was emphasized in the sheriff's office release, stating that such threats will be met with thorough investigations and prosecution.
Reported by HarborBeat based on Maryland Daily Record (source).
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