A 34-year-old Grenada man remains behind bars in the Grenada County Jail this morning awaiting federal charges after a bomb scare Wednesday night.
According to Grenada Police Department Chief George Douglas, officers responded to a complaint involving an explosive device just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night in the 100 block of Gayosa Street just off Hwy. 51 North near Double Quick.
“The complainant expressed to police that a black male subject known as Nicolaus Marquez Cole had made comments that he was going to blow up the house where he resides with other residents,” Douglas said. “The police were made aware of some type of device near the residence by the occupants.”
According to Douglas, GPD officers discovered the device in the yard near the residence and initially called for additional police support services. Officers could not determine if the device was actually an explosive device, so GPD investigators were called to the scene as well as multiple units from the Grenada Fire Department, including Fire Chief Ronnie Willis.
Police officers blocked off a perimeter including South, Gayosa and Union streets. Residents could be seen sitting on front porches, on tops of parked vehicles and gathering in front yards with neighbors watching the investigation unfold and awaiting instructions from GPD officers.
Additional support from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrived on the scene around 9:30 p.m. and assessed the device. The University of Mississippi K-9 unit as well as deputies with the Grenada County Sheriff Department also responded to the scene.
“Police located the suspect and placed him under arrest as the investigation was unfolding,” Douglas said. “The suspect had within his possession a homemade firearm.”
The Bomb Squad from Tupelo was dispatched to the scene and arrived shortly after 10 p.m. Police notified area residents and cleared the area. The bomb squad secured the device, confirmed that it was an explosive and contained and detonated it. Once the threat was eliminated, residents were then allowed to return to their homes.
Cole remains in custody pending charges. The case remains under investigation.
More on this case will be reported by The Star as it is made available.
