Police Seek Atlanta Man Accused Of Bomb Threat In Gwinnett County

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — The Gwinnett County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for Joashua Stone, 43, from Atlanta after he called in a fake bomb threat Jan. 20. Investigators believe Stone called 911 and told dispatchers that someone was threatening to blow up the Smoothie King located at 6575 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, the police department noted. Stone told the dispatcher that he was calling from New York and that he was watching a man with a bomb on video surveillance.

Multiple emergency units were dispatched to the location, including uniform officers, EMS, SWAT, the Hazardous Device Unit, K9 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. She was able to tell detectives that Stone had been harassing her and had previously been arrested for violation of a protection order against her, the police department revealed in a report.

Investigators were able to identify Stone from the recorded 911 line and discovered that he actually made the call from the Atlanta area. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Stone for transmitting a false public alarm. Stone may still be in the Atlanta area and investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating him.

If anyone has any information to share about this case, 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.