HENDERSONVILLE

Lockdown lifted at Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center

Natalie Neysa Alund
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center was on lockdown for nearly three hours Monday due to a bomb threat, according to police.

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The lockdown began at 6:45 a.m. at the hospital at 355 New Shackle Island Road, said Hendersonville Police Department Det. Sgt. Jim Vaughn.

Vaughn said an unidentified person called in the bomb threat forcing police to lock the building down.

After police swept the hospital and found no threat, the lockdown was lifted about 9:40 a.m.

At around 7:30 a.m., the fire department and nursing staff from the hospital set up a triage at the firehouse at 1166 Forest Retreat Road, Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush said. If a person was in immediate need of care during the lockdown, they would escort them to a different hospital.

Bush said he believed one patient did arrive and was transferred to Gallatin.

The triage closed when the lockdown was lifted.

Vaughn said the person who called the threat in had a personal vendetta against the hospital and the threat was an isolated event. Police are working to trace the phone call to get more information about the caller.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Reporter Jen Todd contributed to this report. Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072 and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.