People arriving at the Dawson County Government Center Monday morning got quite the surprise.

“We had a mechanical issue with a public elevator at the courthouse this morning.  The fire alarm was activated just before 8 a.m.,” Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Johnny Holtzclaw  said in an email. “We had slight smoke in the elevator mechanical room. The fire department responded, and all was clear.” 

A trial Judge Clint Bearden is presiding over on the fourth floor was delayed, as was a trial calendar that Judge Andrew Fuller is presiding over for Judge Jason Deal. 

The building’s opening was overall only delayed by about 45 minutes, Holtzclaw stated.

It was particularly important to provide secure fourth-floor access to jurors for the trial’s continuation. 

Jurors are limited by judicial rules in terms of how they can interact with others in the courthouse during trial proceedings. 

“What [courthouse] security had done was open a secured stairway. They gave jurors the opportunity to take the stairs if they wished,” Court Administrator Jason Stephenson said in a phone call. 

“One public elevator is operating now, and the repair company will come out to repair the other one as quickly as possible,” Stephenson added. 

This story will be updated.