UPDATE - MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A man who attached a make-shift rubber bumper to his car doors with wires and duct tape to prevent dents led to a massive federal, state, and local response for a bomb threat that turned out to be false.
There were several calls to 911 about a car appearing to have a bomb on the passenger side doors at the First Watch restaurant on Medical Center Pkwy. at 9:39 a.m. Tuesday. The wires were connected to a suction cup on the inside door handle. All businesses in the shopping plaza were evacuated for nearly two hours as a precaution. Schools in the Seigel school zone were placed on lock-down while the investigation was ongoing due to the address related to the vehicle’s tag.
A Murfreesboro Police Department supervisor eventually reached the owner of the car by phone. He was standing with the other evacuee across the street the entire time, unaware it was his car that promoted the bomb threat calls.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Special Operations Unit responded and gave all clear after examining the car.
Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD), MPD Drone Team, Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD), MFRD Fire Marshal’s Office, Rutherford County Fire Marshal, Tennessee Highway Patrol, ATF, Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services assisted.
Since there was no intent to cause harm, the man will not be charged.
Previous news from the day's event are below.
MURFREESBORO, TN - Reports of a bomb attached to a car outside the First Watch restaurant in Murfreesboro turned out to be a false alarm, according to Murfreesboro Police Public Information Officer Larry Flowers. Flowers said, “A man claiming he attached a rubber bumper, with duct tape and wires to the passenger’s side of his car to prevent dents caused the confusion.”
There was a massive response from local, state and federal agencies, according to the MPD on Tuesday morning. Medical Center Parkway at Thompson Lane was also closed to through traffic as a result of the scare. Police say that several schools in the Siegel school zone were even placed on lockdown. Of course, that lockdown has now been lifted. Again, there was no bomb located and the MPD has given the "All Clear."
Previous Post Below:
MURFREESBORO, TN - WGNS has received multiple calls about an unknown situation in the area of Thompson Lane and Medical Center Parkway. According to Murfreesboro Police Public Information Officer Larry Flowers, “The 1900 block of Medical Center Parkway from Thompson Lane to Joe Knight Drive is closed due to incident.”
As a result of this “incident,” part of the parking lot where Red Robin and First Watch restaurants are located, has been cleared, so no motorist or customers are in that lot.
The MPD confirmed that first responders are assessing the situation, while telling motorist to find an alternate route. Expect traffic delays. You can still access St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital from Broad Street side.
