The Smithville Police Department made an arrest last week after a bomb threat was made against the DeKalb County Courthouse. Authorities say that 39-year-old Matthew Dewayne Griffith of Bright Hill Road, Smithville, was arrested for filing a false report. He is under a $50,000 bond and will be in court on October 3.

According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, "On September 12, 2024 at 9:46 AM Central Dispatch received a call from a male subject stating there was a bomb in the Dekalb County Courthouse. The caller also referenced additional bombs but did not give locations at the time.”

The Dekalb County Sheriff Department, Smithville Police Department, Smithville Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, Tennessee Homeland Security Agency, the FBI and a K-9 and handler from Lebanon Police Department were all summoned to the scene.

The Courthouse was evacuated and searched by Officers and the K-9.  A package of concern was found and was cleared. No explosives were found.

Chief Mark Collins alleges that Griffith did intentionally initiate a report of an impending bombing while knowing the report was false by calling the DeKalb County 911 center and stating that there was a bomb at the DeKalb County Courthouse set to go off at 10:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by Lieutenant Detective James Cornelius and Detective Brandon Donnell of the Smithville Police Department. No other arrests have been made in the case and a motive for the threat has not been established. The investigation continues. Anyone having information on the caller, please contact central dispatch at 615-215-3000.