Charlotte County Sheriff's detectives arrested a Port Charlotte man Wednesday after he allegedly sent a Facebook comment about a bomb at Town Center Mall, 1441 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.
Vincent Lorenzo Barney, 29, 2297 Brentano St., was charged with felony false bomb threat.
Police say an out-of-state "friend" of Barney called CCSO.
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Vincent Lorenzo Barney
Deputies and Charlotte County Fire/EMS helped mall security evacuate employees and shoppers.
Detectives also went to Barney's home. Barney reportedly denied posting the comment but detectives found his computer on with his Facebook post displayed: "There's a bomb in the mall."
Barney reportedly then told police there was no bomb and he posted the comment because he was depressed, stressed out and unable to find a job.
Barney is now in the Charlotte County Jail on $5,000 bond. Mall activity resumed at 12:52 p.m.
