Inmate charged with courthouse explosive threat
An investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office’s Office of Professional Standards reports that a current DeKalb County Jail inmate was behind the threat of an explosive device at the DeKalb County courthouse in downtown Decatur.
The judicial complex and several nearby businesses were evacuated for hours May 27 as law enforcement authorities from five agencies and Homeland Security performed a security sweep in search of the device. DKSO reported that no explosive device was found.
The day following the threat, 47-year-old Joseph Michael Caquette of Atlanta was identified as the suspect, according to DKSO. Jail records show Caquette is currently in custody at the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond on a felony charge. In addition, Caquette is now charged with making terroristic threats and acts.
“Not only did this individual commit an additional offense while already in custody, but he wasted valuable local law enforcement resources with his threat to life and property in our community,” stated Sheriff Melody Maddox.
According to the sheriff’s office, the operation involved some 60 law enforcement personnel from the Decatur Police Department, the DeKalb County Police Department and DeKalb Police K9 units, the Marshal’s Office, MARTA Police, and Homeland Security.
