East Cobb shopping center evacuated due to possible bomb

UPDATED, SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 12:41 P.M.:

The area that had been evacuated was reopened later Saturday without incident.

Marietta Police have charged Robert Andrew Devlin, 37, of Lincoln, Ala., on a felony count of a false public alarm and misdemeanor counts of false report of a crime and reporting a device that turned out to be a hoax.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Devlin was arrested at 11 a.m. Saturday and later booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, where he is being held on a $60,000 bond.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Police have blocked off access around a shopping center in East Cobb Saturday after receiving a tip about a vehicle parked there that may have contained an explosive device.

Marietta Police said Saturday afternoon that several law enforcement agencies are on the scene at the East Gate Shopping Center.

Police are blocking off the area around the shopping center, located at the Marietta Parkway and Lower Roswell Road.

There is no access for motorists on Lower Roswell between the Marietta Parkway and Scott Drive and on Hamby Drive between Lower Roswell and Hazelwood Drive.

Marietta Police said in a social media message that a 911 call at 8:13 a.m. Saturday said a pickup truck parked near the shopping center “may have some sort of a bomb or explosive device in the back.”

According to police, officers called to the scene made contact with the truck owner and “determined the threat to be serious.”

That individual, who was not identified, was taken into custody, police said, and the area was evacuated as the Cobb Police bomb squad was called to the scene.

Police said a device was removed from the truck but “it is not yet known if that device is real.”

They said they believe the area is safe but were keeping the evacuation in place as they continued to search the truck.

Cobb Police, Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Fire, Cobb Fire, the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco also were on the scene.

This story will be updated.

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