The Gwinnett County Police Department is searching for an Atlanta man who is accused of calling in a fake bomb threat to authorities on Jan. 20.
According to Cpl. Collin Flynn, Public Information Officer with the Police Department, investigators believe 43-year-old Joshua Stone called 911 and told dispatchers that someone was threatening to blow up the Smoothie King at 6575 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Stone told the dispatcher that he was calling from New York and that he was watching a male with a bomb on video surveillance.
Multiple emergency units responded to the location, including uniform officers, EMS, SWAT, the Hazardous Device Unit, K9 and a police helicopter.
Flynn said the Smoothie King was closed for over two hours before investigators learned that Stone’s ex-wife was the owner of the business. She told detectives that Stone had been harassing her and had previously been arrested for a violation of a protection order against her, according to Flynn.
Investigators identified Stone from the recorded 911 line and found that he had made the call from the Atlanta area.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Stone for Transmitting a False Public Alarm, and they are now asking for the public’s help in locating him. Flynn said Stone is possibly still in the Atlanta area.
If anyone has any information to share in this case, contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment in this case.
