Police: Erwin man arrested, allegedly left backpack near propane tank exchange and claimed bomb was inside

An Erwin man is facing charges after police responded to a bomb threat involving his backpack outside a grocery store Wednesday evening.

Officers were called to Food Lion on N. Main Ave. on a bomb threat and found that a customer became agitated and left the store because “people were watching him.”

Suspect Joe Williams, 56, reportedly placed his backpack near a propane tank exchange stand and told an employee it had a bomb inside before he fled from the area. The store was evacuated and an explosives K9 team responded to the scene, later discovering no explosives in the backpack, but did find identifying documents and property belonging to Williams.

He was later located and arrested. Erwin Police received assistance from the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office, Erwin Fire Department and Unicoi County EMS.