Suspect arrested for allegedly calling in bomb threats
Published 11:51 am Friday, July 21, 2017
The LaGrange Police Department has arrested a suspect linked to three bomb threats called into local businesses on Thursday evening.
Marcus Santrell Blount, 25, was arrested in Meriwther County around 1 a.m. on Friday morning, according to a LaGrange Police Department press release. After being brought in to the police department for questioning, Blount admitted to calling in the bomb threats to Kia of LaGrange, Mike Patton Auto Family and Verizon.
Blount was arrested on three counts of transmitting a false public alarm and was sent to the Troup county jail, according to the LPD press release.
The LaGrange Police Department investigated three bomb threats Thursday evening at businesses on LaFayette Parkway but found no explosives, according to Sgt. Steve Taylor with LPD.
The bomb threats were called into Verizon Wireless, Kia of LaGrange and Mike Patton Auto Family around 6 p.m. on Thursday, Taylor said. All three buildings were cleared and searched by the LaGrange Police Department. The LPD’s K-9 Units were used in the search and officers from the Georgia Tech Police, Columbus Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff Office, Troup County Sheriff’s Office and Muskogee Police Department aided in clearing and searching the buildings. The LaGrange Police Department and AMR ambulance service were also on the scene.
All three buildings were given the all clear, starting with Verizon just after 7 p.m. Kia of LaGrange and Mike Patton Auto Family were searched and given the all clear after 8 p.m.
Surrounding businesses were also told to evacuate. Domino’s worker Rianna Corpuano said she and her coworkers were surprised by the police telling them to leave the store.
“No one took it seriously at first,” she said.
All three of the locations were completely searched and cleared of any explosives by 8:33 p.m. Police are still investigating the bomb threats.