Man Threatens To Blow Up Hermitage Kroger, Pulls Down Pants, Claims To Be Undercover Cop, Yells 'Allahu Akbar': Police

HERMITAGE, TN — A 28-year-old Nashville was arrested Monday for allegedly threatening to blow up the Hermitage Kroger, taking off his pants, claiming to be an undercover police officer and screaming "Allahu Akbar," not necessarily in that order.

Metro Police were called to the Kroger at 5544 Old Hickory Boulevard on complaints that Kaden Stephens was "disorderly," "erratic" and making "employees uncomfortable."

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Witnesses told police Stephens was making his hand into the shape of a gun and pointing it at people, claiming that his backpack contained the explosive C-4 and that he was "going to blow the roof off the place." He also reportedly kept taking his pants off, though responding officers noted in an affidavit "no one saw any genitalia."

When officers arrived at the Kroger, Stephens allegedly run towards them yelling "Peace" and saying that the police should have shot him because there was only one exit from the Kroger and that he'd made a bomb threat. He then began screaming "Allahu Akbar."

Once he was handcuffed, Stephens told the officer that he himself was undercover and that if "he (Stephens) went down that the arresting officer would go down, too," according to a police report.

Stephens' backpack, which he left in an aisle when he began running towards the police, was checked and contained no explosives or other harmful matter.

Stephens is charged with disorderly conduct, criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer and filing a false report. He also had an outstanding charge of criminal impersonation. His bond is set at $17,500.

Image via Metro Nashville Police