Duffel bags were also found in the city in two different locations, DeWine said.
Several streets were closed downtown. These include Fountain Avenue, Columbia Street, North Street and Limestone Street.
Springfield City School District students were being dismissed early.
Credit: Buck Creek Photography
Credit: Buck Creek Photography
“This is a despicable act,” DeWine said. “It’s caused kids to miss a whole day of school today for the city.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved in the investigation, DeWine said, as well as the governor’s public safety office and the Dayton bomb squad.
“They are on the scene and we don’t have any results yet that I’m aware of in regard to those bomb exams or those examinations of those duffel bags,” DeWine said.
A member of the bomb squad in a suit was seen going in and out of the public safety building, as well as a robot that has x-ray capabilities.
Dayton International Air Force Bomb Squad was at the scene, as was a K-9 unit.
DeWine referenced a slew of bomb threats several Springfield government offices, schools, businesses and people received in late 2024 after Springfield was thrust into the national spotlight when baseless rumors that Haitians were eating pets went viral. Most of those threats came from overseas, DeWine said, and Monday’s threats are different with someone being involved locally to place duffel bags.
An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people from Haiti live in the Springfield area, and many are Temporary Protected Status holders. TPS was previously set to end after Feb. 3, but a judge paused that while a lawsuit challenging the move goes through the courts; the ruling postpones the end of TPS for Haiti indefinitely while the case proceeds.
The Trump administration on Friday filed an appeal in the case and a federal district judge ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to state whether it’s planning an Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Springfield and elsewhere if the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians goes forward.
DIG INTO OUR HAITIAN COVERAGE
Clark County Sheriff’s Office to ‘maintain the peace’ as TPS ends, will not enforce immigration laws
WATCH: Haitian restaurant in Springfield struggles as federal protections near expiration
• What’s coming?: After some initially warned of an anticipated 30-day ICE surge following the end of TPS, school and state officials stressed they have had no direct communication with the feds about potential enforcement actions, but they are preparing for the possibility.
• A community in fear: Reporter Cornelius Frolik traveled the streets of Springfield with a translator and spoke to more than a dozen Haitian people living and working in the Springfield area. Most of them expressed feelings of uncertainty and dread about the TPS cancellation.
• Lawsuits: Area Haitians on TPS are pinning their hopes on a couple of lawsuits that challenge the legality of the federal government’s decision to cancel the TPS designation for Haiti. Here are the details on those lawsuits, including one involving a Springfield man.
• Keket: Our reporters sat down with a local restaurant owner concerned that immigration enforcement fears could close her business. Her compelling personal story is captured in writing and video here.
• Residents prepare: More than 80 people took part in an educational event at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Springfield Thursday evening, learning about their rights and those of their neighbors regardless of immigration status.
• Law enforcement: Local law enforcement officials say they will work to “maintain the peace” amid any ICE surge, but they won’t enforce federal immigration law.
• City leaders: The Springfield City Commission unanimously passed a resolution asking federal immigration agents to follow local rules when conducting enforcement activities.
• Politicians react: Our statehouse reporter Avery Kreemer reached out to politicians who represent Dayton and Springfield at the state and national level about their views on ending TPS and an ICE surge. Read that story here.
• How we got here: We have been reporting on the growth of the Haitian population in Springfield and its effect on the community for years. This story from the archive explains why so many Haitians relocated to Springfield, Ohio.
• Community survey: In addition to reporters interviewing residents on the street, we created an online survey to gather community perspective. I’ll have a summary of responses in an upcoming story.
• Dayton action: Several Dayton restaurants and other businesses closed Friday and hundreds of people gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner’s Dayton office as part of the nationwide protest of ICE operations.
• VIDEO: What to know about Haitian immigration in Springfield
• VIDEO: Haitian immigrant community grows in Springfield
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