LA PLATA, Md. (Dec. 4, 2007) - Eighteen-year-old Lorenzo Charles Thompson of Waldorf was arrested on Sunday for terrorizing several Charles County businesses by threatening to bomb or rob them. Police say Thompson made several 9-1-1 calls on Saturday and Sunday to deliver the threats.
On Sunday at 4:56 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to a 9-1-1 call in which the caller indicated he was going to blow up the Burger King located at 3165 Marshall Hall Road in Bryans Road. Officers responded to the Burger King, established a perimeter, and evacuated the business.
Cpl. C. Roberts and his explosives-detecting K9 partner searched the building but did not find any explosives.
The caller then called 9-1-1 again and threatened to blow up the Bryans Road McDonalds and to rob the Bryans Road Shell Station. Officers responded to both businesses. Cpl. Roberts and his K9 partner searched the McDonalds.
The caller continued to call 9-1-1, provided a false identity to the call-taker and said he was armed with a gun and had explosives in his garage.
The 9-1-1 dispatchers determined the calls were being made from a “Trac” phone only capable of calling 9-1-1 and the calls were being made in the area of a cell tower in Bryans Road.
Officers searched the area and found Lorenzo Charles Thompson, 18, of Waldorf walking on Medway Street. Officers determined Thompson had made the calls. He was arrested and charged with giving a false statement, threat of arson and telephone misuse with repeat calls.
Thompson was subsequently held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner.
Police say that their subsequent investigation revealed Thompson called 9-1-1 Saturday night and threatened to blow up the same Bryans Road Burger King. Officers responded after that call, evacuated the building and searched it with an explosives-detecting K9. No explosives were detected.
Charges are pending against Thompson in the Saturday night investigation.
Officer D. Almassy of the Charles County Sheriff's Office investigated.