Crime & Safety

Suspect Arrested in North Point Mall Bomb Threat

Omari Glenn Riden, 28 has been arrested and will be charged in the threat that forced the mall's evacuation.

A man has been formally arrested and will be charged with calling in a bomb threat that forced officials to shut down and evacuate North Point Mall in Alpharetta.

Omari Glenn Riden, 28, was taken into custody and will be formally charged with the threat, said Alpharetta Department of Public Safety Spokesperson George Gordon.

He remains held without bond. 

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"During the interview with the detectives, he began to cry and confessed to calling in the hoax bomb threat," Gordon said, adding the charges are yet to be determined.

The mall was evacuated mid-morning Friday after Riden allegedly called in the bomb threat shortly before 10 a.m. 

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Despite the chaos that could have followed the threat, Gordon noted the employees at the mall "very cooperative and evacuated in an orderly fashion."

Alpharetta officers relied on the support of emergency dispatchers, fire services members and the crews from the public works department to complete the work needed to track down the suspect.

"The search required a significant number of staff since over one million square feet of mall floor space was searched," he added. 

Gordon gave credit to Alpharetta detectives "who used their exceptional skills and technology" to quickly apprehend Riden.

He also thanked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and FBI Special Agents assigned to the Atlanta JTTF field office for their "invaluable assistance."   


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