Investigators with the Oxford Police Department have made an arrest in connection with a bomb threat at the Oxford Mall on Sunday, July 14.
Matthew Allen, a 29-year old from Bruce, was arrested on Tuesday, July 16, as a result of the investigation. He was charged with False Report of a Bomb. If convicted, Allen faces a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in a penitentiary.
An email from Oxford’s Deputy Chief Kevin Stark stated Allen’s bond was set at $10,000.
“On Tuesday, July 16, investigators with the Oxford Police Department arrested Matthew Allen, 29 years old from Bruce, MS as a result of the investigation of the incident at the Oxford Mall Parking Lot on July 14,” Stark stated in the email. “Mr. Allen was charged with False Report of a Bomb.”
In a press statement issued from the OPD on that Sunday, July 14, Stark said the responding officers deemed the package suspicious based on the circumstances. The area was secured and assistance was requested from the Tupelo Bomb Squad. There were no injuries to report.
Stark added that assistance from the Tupelo Bomb Squad didn’t cost the city of Oxford anything since they are a regional response team. OPD also had the assistance of the FBI, ATF, the Oxford Fire Department and Oxford Emergency Management the night of the threat.
