Cobb County

Note on car that sparked bomb scare at Marietta Square was a joke, police say

MARIETTA, Ga. — Police say a bomb scare at Marietta Square Wednesday morning was the result of a joke.

Channel 2 Action News viewers reported a heavy police presence near the square Wednesday morning on Waddell Street outside the Marietta Daily Journal building.

Marietta police confirmed that the Cobb County bomb squad was on the scene.

Employees with the Marietta Daily Journal said a car was parked in front of their offices with a threatening note on it. The note threatened a bomb explosion if anyone touched the black Posrche and asked for $10,000 in ransom to disarm the explosives, police said.

Employees at the Journal initially evacuated the building.

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Police said they found the owner of the Porsche, who said the note was a private joke between two friends.

Rochard Studenic, 70, said he didn't realize that he put the notes in public view on his dashboard or that he parked his car in front of the paper.

Studenic said another man wrote the note. That man also spoke with detectives.

Officer Chuck McPhilamy said no explosives were found in the car.

Police said Studenic was cooperative. He was charged with reckless conduct and booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.