Habersham County law enforcement and firefighters were called to the scene of a bomb scare outside a Cornelia residence Friday afternoon. The homeowners found a briefcase with wires coming out of it in their yard at 2758 J. Warren Road. The homeowners called 911. Officers arrived on the scene around 3:15 p.m.
“The homeowners discovered it out in their front yard when they went to leave,” says Habersham County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Kevin Angell. “They noticed some wires protruding from it and called it in as a suspicious package.”
Deputies determined the device was fake after a K-9 unit sniffed for explosives but did not detect any.
“Looking at this package, anybody would be scared it was potentially a bomb,” says Angell. He says there’s nothing at this point in the investigation that indicates the homeowners or property were targeted.
Investigators are still trying to determine who created the fake bomb. The GBI Bomb Squad has taken over the investigation at the request of the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s going to be the intent of creating that package, putting it out in front of this property and creating the bomb scare – that feeling of danger – that will determine if any charges are taken,” Angell says.
The sheriff’s office stresses they believe this is an isolated incident and there is no imminent threat to the community.
