Friday night grocery runs in downtown Cincinnati got an unwelcome jolt when a reported threat forced a sweep of the Kroger on E. Court Street in Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati police responded in force, bringing in K-9 teams and the Hamilton County bomb squad to search the store while customers and staff were moved out of harm’s way. No injuries were reported, and investigators said they ultimately found no hazardous device.
According to police radio traffic, the call came in around 6 p.m., and crews remained on scene while they conducted searches, as reported by WLWT. A Kroger spokesperson told WLWT the company evacuated the Over-the-Rhine location “as a precautionary measure,” briefly closing the store before reopening. The company directed all further questions to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Store Location And Previous Police Responses
The downtown grocery, known as Kroger On the Rhine, is listed at 100 E. Court St. in Kroger's store directory. The same location has drawn police attention in recent years, including an incident in which a shot came through a store window. No injuries were reported in that case, according to WCPO.
What Officials Are Saying
Kroger is standing by its description of Friday’s closure as a precaution and continues to refer all inquiries to the Cincinnati Police Department. Investigators have not released additional information about who called in the threat or whether any charges might follow. This story will be updated if authorities provide more details.
