Man with a Bag Claiming to Work for the Taliban Causes Evacuation at Largo Mall

Man with a Bag Claiming to Work for the Taliban Causes Evacuation at Largo Mall

The situation at Largo Mall is over. There were no explosives or other suspicious materials in the suspect’s backpack.

At this time, 48 year-old Freddie Claudrick Bryant, is under arrest for “False Report Concerning Planting a Bomb or Explosive,” which is a Second Degree Felony.

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At 3:06 pm, the Largo Police Department received a call from the general manager at the Red Lobster restaurant at the Largo Mall at 10500 Ulmerton Rd.

A black male with a black bag had entered the store and, according to the GM, told the hostess, “Just to make you smile, I work for the Taliban and I have a bomb in this bag.”

When the suspect asked for a booth near a window, he and an unknown female were seated away from other patrons.

At LPD’s direction, the customers and staff were quietly evacuated through the east door to the restaurant.

Patrol officers set a perimeter around the building. At 3:20 pm, the suspect exited the front door and told officers that there was nothing in the bag and that he was just joking.

At this time, the suspect is in custody and arrangements are being made to check the contents of the bag by the Tampa Bomb Squad.

There are no injuries reported.