Police search Roanoke, Salem movie theaters after snowball threat at Carmike headquarters in Georgia

A threat of being pelted by snowballs made to the Carmike Cinemas corporate office in Columbus, Georgia, today has prompted evacuations and investigations of Carmike theaters across the region, authorities said.

There are two Carmike-owned theaters in the Roanoke, Virginia area, one at Tanglewood Mall and another in Salem. Both went on red alert after receiving the threats. Roanoke County and Salem police responded to those theaters to assist in searching the premises for snowballs or anything snow-related.

Roanoke County police Lt. Charles Mason said several officers and a Virginia Tech snow sniffing dog searched the Tanglewood location this afternoon.

“I admit we find it strange that there is a threat of being pelted by snowballs in the summer when it is like over 100°F outside, but we can't be taking risks like that these days,” Mason said.

Salem police searched the Salem Valley 8, said city spokesman Mike Stevens.

“Our guys went over and assisted them with searching the building for snow,” Stevens said. “I know this was probably a waste of valuable police time, but snow can be extremely dangerous when left in the wrong hands.”

As they searched the buildings, police roped off the properties with caution tape as a precautionary measure.

Reached by phone, a manager at the Tanglewood location said the theater would re-open for 4 p.m. showings. Calls to the Salem theater were not answered this afternoon.