GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — An Atlanta man is wanted after police said he called in a fake bomb threat against a Duluth Smoothie King store owned by his ex-wife.
According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, authorities have secured an arrest warrant for Joshua Stone, 43, for the Jan. 20 threat.
Investigators with the department said it appears Stone called 911 and told dispatchers that someone was threatening to blow up the Smoothie King located off Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Stone allegedly told the dispatcher that he was calling from New York and that he was watching the male with the bomb on video surveillance.
The threat triggered the dispatch of multiple emergency units, including uniformed officers, EMS, SWAT, the Hazardous Device Unit, K-9 and a police helicopter.
The store was closed for more than two hours before investigators learned that Stone’s ex-wife was the owner of the business. Police said she told detectives that Stone had been harassing her and had previously been arrested for violation of a protection order against her.
Investigators were able to identify Stone from the recorded 911 call and discovered that he actually made the call from the Atlanta area. After, those investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Stone, accusing him of transmitting a false public alarm. He's still wanted by police. They said Stone is possibly still in the Atlanta area. Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating him.
If anyone has any information to share in this case, they're asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should 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 and indictment in this case.