Ford’s Romeo Engine Plant cleared of threat

Romeo — Ford Motor Co.’s Romeo Engine Plant was evacuated for several hours Thursday because of a bomb threat.

The plant was reopened at 12:47 p.m. “after law enforcement investigated and cleared the site.” The afternoon and evening shifts are expected to report at their usual start times.

“We’re cooperating with the law enforcement officials,” Ford spokesman Mike Moran said.

The early day shift was sent home, Moran said, after the threat was reported between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

According to Ford, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office was immediately notified. Deputies were sent to the scene with bomb-sniffing dogs.

Authorities then conducted a search of the plant, which is more than 2 million square-feet.

The plant opened in 1973 and employs 512 people, according to Ford’s website.

Moran said he did not know how many employees were in the building Thursday morning. It’s likely it would have only been up to a few hundred.

A Romeo police dispatcher refused to comment on the matter.