Hickory police, FBI charge man after receiving more than 400 bomb threats

HICKORY, N.C. — Police have arrested a man in connection with more than 400 bomb threats that were made in the past few months in Burke and Caldwell County.

Police told Channel 9 on Thursday that their officers, along with the FBI, arrested 27-year-old Cody Startt in Matoaka, West Virginia.

Startt was charged with felony probation violations related to prior convictions for making bomb threats and is being held with no bond and is awaiting extradition to Catawba County.

Police said that they have received more than 400 bomb threats since May 21, and that all of them were hosts.

Police responded to more than 100 just last weekend after reports came in from across the area.

Two weeks ago Channel 9 reported that officials responded to more than 75 bomb threats at local businesses, including a Walmart in Newton that was evacuated.

Meanwhile, officers in Morganton responded to bomb threats at motels, fast food chains and convenience stores.

Charges against Startt will be forthcoming in reference to the most recent bomb threats that took place in Hickory, Newton, Conover, Morganton, Lenoir and Granite Falls as well as other locations throughout Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties.

All agencies are working with the FBI, U.S. Marshals and NCSBI as well as the District Attorney’s office to determine the exact charges Startt may face and whether he will be prosecuted in state or federal court.

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