Publix Bomb Threat Leads To Reward Offer

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for calling in a bomb threat to a New Port Richey Publix store last week could be worth up to $3,000. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay stepped forward with the offer after local police released surveillance photos of a suspect in the case.

According to the New Port Richey Police Department, a phone call was placed to the 5127 U.S. 19 Publix just after 9 p.m. June 29. The male caller asked for the district manager and said that a bomb had been placed at one of his 10 stores. The U.S. 19 location, however, was the only store to receive the call.

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The Southgate store was searched and no bomb was found. Police say they notified the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office about the threat since all other stores overseen by the particular district manager were in that agency’s jurisdiction.

While no bombs were found, police began investigating who might have made the threatening call. Authorities say the investigation led them to a man who was seen entering a different Publix location earlier in the day on June 29 to file a complaint and make a return. Authorities say the phone number the man provided matched that of the person who made the bomb threat.

Police pulled surveillance video from the man’s encounter during the return. Photos of the suspect have since been released.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the photos is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or by going online to www.crimestopperstb.com.

No further information is available at this time.

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Photos courtesy of Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay