Who is Mark Wayne Clark? Florida man arrested for false bomb threat that led to brief shut down of state Capitol
A man from Tallahassee, Florida, has been arrested in connection to a bomb threat that forced a shutdown of the Florida Capitol building Thursday, January 21, morning.
The Tallahassee Police Department arrested 61-year-old Mark Wayne Clark for making a false bomb threat against state property. Authorities said he was taken into custody at a bar about three miles from the Capitol. Capitol Police were informed about the bomb threat before 3 am on January 21 after which they swept through the Capitol grounds. However, nothing suspicious was discovered by patrols and bomb-sniffing dogs. Employees had been barred from entering the building due to the threat.
Police were dispatched to the bar after receiving a call from an employee who told authorities that a man talked about planting a bomb at the Capitol, which was supposed to go off at 8 am. The Department said the arrest was the result of collaborative investigation among Capitol Police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
“Call notes indicate the caller overheard a white male wearing all camouflage clothing talking about having a bomb at the Capitol and it was going to go off at 8 a.m.,” the report said. “Upon arrival, I met with a white male who was sitting outside the bar who was wearing all green camouflage clothing and a Ford hat.” Police said Clark “was speaking mostly gibberish and saying ‘hi’” multiple times.
The Law enforcement officials have been on high alert since state capitols were targeted with threats of violence following an insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6. Florida’s Capitol had been on heightened security since Sunday, January 17, when the country braced for potential violence at state capitals in all 50 states.
Clark was charged with making a false bomb threat to state-owned property. He was later released on $10,000 bail at 11.30 am on Thursday and will appear before a Leon County judge on Friday, January 22.
"Any threat against a government official or building is unlawful. Those who hear or witness these actions are encouraged to immediately notify law enforcement," the Department said in the statement. "If you see something, say something."
You can report suspicious activity by calling TPD at 850-891-4200 or FDLE at 1-800-FLA-SAFE.