New Albany man arrested for alleged bomb threat on a furniture plant

ECRU, Miss. (WCBI) – A New Albany man sits behind bars after being accused of making a bomb threat at the Ashley Furniture plant in Ecru.

26 year-old Gavin McWilliams made his initial court appearance on Monday and is being charged with making a false bomb threat.

Devin McWilliams

Ecru Police Chief Matthew Stringer said they were first tipped off about the alleged bomb threat this past Friday.

Once on scene, investigators immediately evacuated the building and brought in bomb dogs to thoroughly search the building.

Stringer said during their investigation, several tips led them to McWilliams, and he was arrested on Saturday.

The 26-year-old was an employee at Ashley Furniture.

However, police are still investigating the motive behind the alleged threat.

“A bomb threat is serious, there’s no good time to do something like this, whether it’s a prank or something more serious,” said Chief Stringer. “I’d like to think that maybe with all of the stuff going on in Pontotoc County that kind of tightens the reigns that we are serious about this and we will do all we can to make an arrest and put a stop to it.”

Bond for McWilliams was set at $200,000.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections currently has a hold on him due to a previous drug charge.

He’s currently being held at the Union County Jail.