Emergency Alert: 12/16/2009 Updated 8:15 PM

Mount Pleasant, Mich. December 16, 2009 – 8:15PM - Tribal spokesman Frank Cloutier announced that law enforcement officials have given the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort the all clear signal after a massive search of the property related to a credible bomb threat did not uncover any explosives.

Employees of the resort have been called back to work beginning at 12:01AM Thursday and patrons would be allowed back into the resort by 2:00 AM.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe's police department received an explosives threat against the Mount Pleasant facility at approximately 1:30PM and deployed tactical response teams quicky. The orderly, precautionary evacuation began at 3:15pm displacing approximately 2,000 patrons, 250 hotel guests and 700 resort employees. Hotel guests were shuttled to the Tribe's sister property Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center for accommodations.

Tribal Council Chief Dennis V. Kequom, Sr. and the Council's decision was made out of concern for the safety of patrons and associates. The Tribe's commitment to a safe and secure environment for patrons and associates was evidenced by the quick response to the threat.

Responding to the resort in a coordinated effort were law enforcement officials from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Michigan State Police, Isabella County, City of Mount Pleasant, CMU, Saginaw County, East Lansing, MMR, EOC, Mark Griffis, MSU, and BAYANET.

Emergency Alert: 12/16/2009 Updated 6:15 PM

The Tribal Council is very concerned for the safety and well being of all of our associates and patrons which prompted the precautionary evacuation. At this time we are informing all associates to report to work at 12 midnight to begin preparations to re-open the facility. We would encourage them to call PBX before travelling to work to ensure that the back to work order is still in effect.

Emergency Alert: 12/16/2009 UPDATE as of 6:00pm

Employees of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort have been informed to report to work beginning at 12 midnight. Associates should report to the respective work sites to begin preparation to re-open the facility. There is no time frame when the facility will resume normal operations.

Emergency Alert: 12/16/2009 Updated 5:18 PM

As of 4:36 PM, the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and the Slot Palace have been successfully evacuated under our precautionary safety evacuation. Guests staying at the Soaring Eagle Casino resort have been shuttled to the Soaring Eagle Inn & Conference Center (formerly the Holiday Inn), 5665 E. Pickard Street in Mount Pleasant. All guests and employees have been cleared from the property. There is no estimated time when the facility will reopen. Media representatives can call the command center at 989-776-4897.
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Emergency Alert: 12/16/2009 3:59PM

The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been informed by local law enforcement that we are under threat of possible explosives threat on the resort property. It is not clear that this is a credible threat, but it is being treated as such. In the interest of the safety and security of our patrons, associates and business professionals the Tribal Council of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has ordered a preemptive evacuation of all Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort properties. Your Cooperation and patience is crucial during this precautionary evacuation. We repeat that this threat is not been deemed eminent and your cooperation will ensure we secure the safety of everyone involved as soon as possible.

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