False call sparks police response at Alcoa Walmart, official says
Blount County and Alcoa city law enforcement responded to a situation at an Alcoa Walmart Tuesday, officials told WVLT News.
ALCOA, Tenn. (WVLT) - Blount County and Alcoa city law enforcement responded to a situation at the Walmart at 1020 Hunters Crossing Drive Tuesday, officials told WVLT News. That response was later confirmed to have been sparked by a false call, Emily Assenmacher with the city of Alcoa said.
Assenmacher said someone called to say that Walmart employees were being held at gunpoint.
Crews with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Alcoa Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service responded and found that everyone inside the store was safe, according to a media release from Assenmacher.
Public information officers were not able to provide many details, but Marion Bryant with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the Walmart had been cleared by officers.
Additionally, Assenmacher told WVLT News that the Topside Road CBBC bank was robbed.
The suspect in the robbery fled on a motorcycle towards Alcoa Highway with cash, according to the release. However, Assenmacher said they wrecked and then fled on foot towards Airport Auto Auction.
APD officers then found the suspect in the area, and U.S. Marshal personnel arrested them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and APD are working together on an investigation. The money and a firearm believed to be linked to the robbery was recovered, Assenmacher said.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the false call at Walmart or the robbery incident should call the APD at (865) 981-4111.
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