Marietta police responded to two separate bomb threats in less than two weeks, forcing evacuations and road closures at local businesses. Both turned out to be hoaxes.

What It Means For You: If you work at or visit businesses in downtown Marietta, you may face sudden evacuations and road closures as police investigate these threats. One person has been arrested, but police are still searching for whoever made the second threat.

What’s Happening: The first threat came just before midnight on September 26 at Johnnie MacCraken’s on Atlanta Street. Police arrested 29-year-old James Lusk of Marietta after investigators say he got into a fight at the business, was kicked out, then called in the bomb threat. He faces charges including making a false public alarm.

The second threat happened around 11 a.m. on October 8 at Lovely Bodies Gym on West Atlanta Street. Someone called demanding $50,000 and claimed they planted explosives outside the building. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad searched the area and declared it safe about an hour later.

Between the Lines: These hoaxes aren’t harmless pranks. They pull emergency workers away from real emergencies, shut down businesses, and create fear in the community. Roads close. People can’t get to work. First responders waste time and resources.

What You Can Do: Police are still investigating the gym threat. If you know anything about the October 8 incident, contact the Marietta Police Department. You can stay anonymous by using the MPD app or calling Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

The Sources: Marietta Police Department.

B.T. Clark
Publisher at 

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.