A man has been charged after allegedly calling 911 to falsely report that he had planted a bomb in West Town Mall on Friday evening.
Knoxville police reported that officers responded to the call around 6:45 p.m. They later identified the caller as 32-year-old Marshall Hazlett, who was found at the Target on Ray Mears Boulevard. Investigators determined that Hazlett made the bomb threat to provoke an immediate police response, resulting in his arrest for filing a false report.
Court records revealed Hazlett had earlier called 911 around 5:50 p.m., stating he was at the Cheesecake Factory, under the influence of drugs, experiencing a mental health crisis, and in need of medical assistance.
Hazlett reportedly made a second call claiming he had placed a bomb inside the mall, prompting the police response. No bomb was found, and no injuries were reported.
