Buchanan, Tenn.–An explosive device that had been left at the front door of the Security Bank branch on Hwy. 79N was disarmed by the Jackson Bomb Squad this afternoon. The Henry Co. Sheriff’s Office, ATF and FBI are working jointly on the investigation and Sheriff Monte Belew said at this time there are no suspects.
The bomb squad disabled the device safely.
As WENK/WTPR reported early this morning and updated throughout the day, a suspicious package was left at the front door of the bank around 8:30 a.m. Henry Co. Sheriff Monte Belew said a threatening note was left with the package.
Upon Sheriff Belew’s arrival at the bank, he was able to clear the area of any immediate threat. “He then inspected the package and was able to see what he believed was an explosive device,” according to a press release issued this afternoon by the sheriff’s office.
At that time Sheriff Belew along with Sgt. Terry Williams and Deputy Frankie Scott set up a safety perimeter to ensure no one was in immediate danger of the device .
Jackson Police Department’s bomb squad was called to the scene and did an initial X-ray of the package which did reveal that it was indeed an explosive device.
Hwy. 79N was completely shut down and a safety perimeter was extended even further as the bomb squad worked to safely disarm the device. During the afternoon, spectators who had gathered in their cars across the highway were moved and an ambulance was stationed at the Dollar General Store which is also across the highway. The Paris Landing Fire Department also was called, to be stationed nearby.
After approximately 30 minutes they were able to verify that the device had been disarmed.
Belew said, “We would like to thanks all of the agencies who came and helped, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Bomb Squad, THP, FBI, ATF, TBI, EMA, TEMA, TDOT, EMS and Paris Landing Fire Dept.”
The FBI, ATF and Henry County Sheriff’s Office CID will be working jointly on this case. At the time of this release there are no suspects.
Sheriff Belew stated he would like to thank all of the responding agencies for working seamlessly to ensure this incident was concluded without any harm to anyone or any damage to anything.
Photos by Shannon McFarlin and Jim Perry.
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