PORT TOWNSEND — An anonymous threat that prompted a police screening of the Jefferson County Courthouse on Wednesday “turned out to be nothing,” Port Townsend Police Detective Jason Greenspane said Thursday.

Police closed two of the three access doors after dispatchers received a report that two people on foot supposedly had intentions to bring explosives to the courthouse at 1820 Jefferson St.

Police Wednesday screened those entering the courthouse in search of the alleged suspects.

County commissioners decided to reopen all three doors after police determined the threat was unfounded.

“It’s business as usual back at the courthouse,” Greenspane said Thursday.

The reporting party heard secondhand information that another man had anthrax in his backpack, Greenspane said.

The misunderstanding occurred during a “somewhat custodial” dispute between the man with the backpack and a third man.

“The facts don’t indicate it was a false report,” Greenspane said.

“It was just information that [the reporting party] misunderstood. It was sarcastic in nature.”

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.