Man Called in Faux Bomb Threat with Phone Found in Bathroom

A man who went into the bathroom at a Florida Walmart store reportedly found someone’s cell phone and allegedly used it to make a false report to the authorities, saying there was a bomb at the location.

On the afternoon of January 12, a man in a Port Charlotte Walmart entered the bathroom. While there, he reportedly discovered a cell phone sitting out, but no one else was in the restroom. The man had allegedly seen several videos on TikTok showing people going into stores and calling in fake bomb threats. He reportedly dialed 911, and after a dispatcher answered he said there was a bomb in the store. It was noted in the police report that he ended the call by saying “tic toc tic toc.”

Law enforcement from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office went to the location to investigate. When they arrived, they saw the rightful owner of the phone, and he told them he was able to digitally track the device’s location to the Walmart bathroom where he had been shortly before the call was placed.

Store surveillance footage was collected, and the authorities saw a man going into the restroom moments before 911 received the threat. The police found someone matching the appearance of the man in the video, and they identified him as the suspect they were seeking.

The probable cause statement noted that the man confessed to making the call and that he got the idea from TikTok.

The man was taken into custody and booked into the Charlotte County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of a second-degree felony count of making a false report about planting a bomb or weapon of mass destruction. He was held in lieu of a $15,000 bond. Upon his release, the suspect was informed that at this time he is legally disallowed from having contact with any Walmart location.

If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.