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Coty J. Clements found a phone in the bathroom of a Walmart in Port Charlotte, Florida, and then allegedly called in a bomb threat. Cops later arrested him. (Walmart: Google Maps; Mug shot: Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office)
A Florida man found a phone in the bathroom of a Walmart and proceeded to call in a bomb threat, authorities allege.
Now the man, 28-year-old Coty J. Clements, is facing a false report about planting a bomb or weapon of mass destruction charge.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office received a call Friday from a man who said there was a bomb at the local Neighborhood Walmart on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. The man hung up but answered when cops called back and said “Tic Toc, Tic Toc” before hanging up again, a press release said.
Deputies searched the store and talked with the owner of the phone who said he had left it in the bathroom and saw 911 calling him on his Bluetooth watch that is connected to his phone. He then pinged his phone to reveal the stall in which he left it. Surveillance video showed the owner of the phone entering and exiting the bathroom shortly before the bomb threat. Then a man, later identified as Clements, walked into the bathroom and was in the facility when the bomb threat call came in, deputies said.
Clements then left the store but walked back inside where deputies arrested him. He admitted to making the call, saying he saw people do the same thing on TikTok. Cops arrested him and took him to the Charlotte County Jail where he has since posted a $15,000 bond.
“Threats of any kind will not be tolerated in Charlotte County, and for this individual, I believe he learned that lesson promptly,” said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell. “Thankfully there was no actual threat to the public, but I want to commend the quick responses of my dispatchers as well as the deputies in ensuring the safety of the scene and in locating this suspect.”
