A TRUCK driver accused of broadcasting a disturbing evacuation warning in a Tennessee town just two days after a similar vehicle was used in the Nashville Christmas Day bombing has been identified.
James Turgeon, 33, sparked fears of a possible copycat attack on Sunday when he allegedly drove through Lebanon, Tennessee, blaring a recording "similar to what was heard" before an RV exploded in downtown Nashville on Friday morning.
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said Turgeon was booked on two counts of felony filing a false report and one count of tampering with evidence.
The Tennessee highway was earlier sealed off as cops responded to reports of an evacuation warning blaring from a PA system in a truck parked near the Crossroads Market at about 10.30 am Sunday.
The warning message advised people to evacuate, WSMV reports.
A bomb squad was called in to search the truck for explosives but none were found, police said.
Sgt Steve Craig of the Rutherford County Sheriff's office said deputies later learned that the truck had also played the audio outside the Kings Chapel Independent Missionary Baptist Church during a service earlier in the day.
On Sunday afternoon the Wilson County Sheriff's Office tweeted: "Highway 231 South from the Cedars of Lebanon State Park to Richmond Shop road is currently shut down due to a suspicious vehicle."
It continued: "Please avoid the area and seek an alternate route. We will post updates as more information comes in."
Images showed a white truck on the empty Tennessee road surrounded by police cars as law enforcement officers apprehended the vehicle.
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office say the truck had been "playing audio similar to what was heard before the Christmas Day explosion in Nashville."
The statement read: "The driver traveled from Rutherford County into Wilson County where he was stopped by deputies and detained. As a precaution, nearby residents were evacuated during the active investigation.
"Rutherford County dispatchers received a call about 10:30 a.m. about the white box truck parked at Crossroads Market in Walter Hill. Deputies located the truck and made the traffic stop.
"Rutherford and Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are working together in the ongoing investigation."
Footage showed a bomb squad robot being sent back to the box truck.
Turgeon is now being held on $500,000 bond, officials said.
On Christmas Day, an SUV played an audio warning before exploding in downtown Nashville.
After the recorded countdown hit zero, the vehicle exploded into a massive fireball, sending shrapnel flying and destroying nearby buildings.
The FBI said the RV arrived at roughly 1.22am Central time in central Nashville and investigators believe the blast was an "intentional act."
Police are investigating whether human remains found among the wreckage could be that of suspected suicide bomber Anthony Quinn Warner, the RV’s possible owner.
Investigators are reportedly probing whether Warner, 63, intentionally detonated the RV outside an area AT&T building over his alleged paranoia about 5G technology and alleged government eavesdropping
The explosion injured three people, damaged at least 41 businesses and caused one building to partially collapse.
Nashville mayor John Cooper had enforced a curfew in the downtown area until Sunday, via an executive order, to limit public access to the area.
Source: Read Full Article