ISLE OF WIGHT
Deputies with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a suspect in connection with a bomb threat that was made against the Young-Laine Courthouse in early July.

Anthony Highsmith, 42, whose last known address is the 4300 block of Ennisdale Drive, Smithfield, was taken into custody outside the courthouse on Thursday.

This information comes from Lt. Tommy Potter, spokesman for the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office.

Highsmith was in General District Court that morning on a traffic-related matter when he was charged. His arrest comes after a month-long investigation into his whereabouts at the time of the call.

Potter said that Highsmith had been a suspect since the day of the incident. The threat, which was called in to the Isle of Wight County Circuit Court Clerk’s office at approximately 9:30 a.m. on July 5, caused the entire courthouse to be evacuated. No bombs were found.

The spokesman added that  threats of this nature severely disrupt the business of the courts and cause delays in an already overcrowded court docket, and unnecessary expenses to the courts and Isle of Wight County.

Highsmith was taken to Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, where he is being held without bond. He faces two felony charges: Virginia Code 18.2-83, threats to bomb or damage building; and Virginia Code 18.2-427, use of a phone or other device to threaten or intimidate.