UPDATE: Police Arrest Suspect in Towson Toilet Mystery

Officials identified the suspect on Tuesday.

Updated (4:53 p.m.)—Police have arrested a man in connection with a Monday morning bomb scare that closed several Towson streets during the early rush hour.

The scare was sparked by a toilet and other items placed on the sidewalk outside the Old Courthouse.

The bizarre collection included a petition calling for a probe into the shooting death of an Illinois man related to a Baltimore resident named "Shorty."

Police did not name the suspect, but police spokesman Lt. Rob McCullough said the man will have a bail hearing by tomorrow.

At around 8 a.m. a county maintenance worker found suspicious items on the Washington Avenue sidewalk in front of the courthouse, police said. The most prominent item was a toilet bowl that had a cell phone and compact disc affixed to it and was plastered with stickers and newspaper clippings. An old radio sat next to the toilet bowl with a note written on cardboard nearby, and an apparent petition attached to it.

After finding the device outside the courthouse, the maintenance worker notified courthouse security personnel.

"It appeared to be suspicious, so they contacted police," McCullough said.

Police sent a bomb disposal unit to investigate, before declaring the area safe. Several roads around the courthouse — including Washington Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Chesapeake Avenue — were temporarily shut down. But no buildings were evacuated. Workers arriving during the Monday morning rush hour faced multiple detours.

"We, the undersigned, are supporters of Duane Gerald Davis (Shorty)," the note attached to the radio read. It then identifies Davis as a "well respected" Baltimore-area resident. The note requested that state and local officials push the town of Zion, IL, to "conduct a complete and impartial investigation" into the 2006 death of Davis' son, Gerrell.

According to a 2006 Chicago Tribune report, the younger Davis, 16, was shot and killed by a homeowner during an attempted burglary.

When reached by Patch at his Upperco restaurant, Duane Davis said he did not have time to comment and was headed to "the courthouse" to renounce his American citizenship. Before leaving, he told The Baltimore Sun he had no knowledge of the bomb scare, but has donated decorated toilets for charity auctions.

"They're parting gifts," he told the newspaper. "A toilet ain't racist, it don't care who sits on it, it don't care who uses it."

A Facebook profile for Davis included references to renouncing his citizenship and a post from Monday morning where he wrote, "Monday morning Madness. Left my Toilet at the Baltimore County Courthouse. Also left a kite of Knowledge. Secrets will not Block Justice."

In the post, Davis referenced plans to leave "material" at the Baltimore Basilica and wrote, "Don't want to live in a Country of White Justice and Black Justice while you promote equality across the Airwaves. Get Shorty. Well Maryland you got more of me than you really want to deal with. This is a REAL GHETTO STORY."

McCullough told Patch nobody was in danger during the incident.