False Report of a Bomb on Oxford Square Leads to Arrest

An early morning bomb threat on the Square led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man.

According to the Oxford Police Department, at 12:28 a.m. Sunday, OPD received a

911 call of a bomb threat to a business in the 100 block of Courthouse Square.

Officers coordinated with law enforcement and the Oxford Fire Department to evacuate and secure the immediate area.

Once the scene was secured, OPD personnel and University Police Department’s K-9 cleared the

building and deemed the area safe.

While officers were protecting the area, an immediate investigation into the source of the call began.

OPD and Metro Narcotics were able to identify Blake Portnoy, 23, of Missouri as the caller.

Portnoy was charged with false reporting of a bomb and given a $50,000 bond by a Lafayette

County Justice Court judge.

Staff report