A Tennessee man’s DIY ‘rubber bumper’ sets off a false bomb threat, shutting down schools and closing businesses

A Tennessee car owner’s homemade “rubber bumper” caused a massive false bomb alarm and led to local businesses closing and nearby schools being put on lockdown for hours.

The unknown owner of Murfreesboro, TN, had two white sheets taped to the passenger side of the car with wires running around the front door handle. The ‘rubber bumper’ was held on with suction cups and was intended to prevent dents.

Whether or not this prevented dents in the car, it certainly led to a bomb threat that forced police to evacuate the area around a local First Watch restaurant for two hours.

Just after 9:30 a.m., first responders were dispatched to the location to respond to reports that a bomb had been attached to the car.

A police supervisor on the scene then contacted the owner, who was standing among the crowd on the other side of the street, unaware that it was his car that had caused mass hysteria.

According to Murfreesboro police, nearby buildings were evacuated and several schools in the school zone were placed on lockdown while investigators assessed the scene.

Murfreesboro police said in a statement, “All businesses in the shopping plaza were evacuated for almost two hours as a precaution.”

Leslie Huggins told it WKRN.com: ‘They told us there was a bomb threat and basically shouted at us to get out of the building.’

Authorities also reported that the call resulted in a massive response from local, state and federal agencies.

A police supervisor on the scene then contacted the owner, who was standing among the crowd on the other side of the street, unaware that it was his car that had caused mass hysteria.

But when the man explained his DIY project to police, all warnings were interrupted.

Murfreesboro Police and Fire Department Public Information Officer Larry Flowers said, “We had a massive response to this location only to find out it was a man trying to keep his car from getting dented.”

Around 1 p.m., the Tennessee Highway Special Operations Unit gave the all-clear and all school closures were lifted. The police later also cleared the site.

Around 1 p.m., the Tennessee Highway Special Operations Unit gave the all-clear and all school closures were lifted. The police later also cleared the site

Because there was no “intent to cause damage,” police have said the owner will not be charged. It is not yet known who made the emergency call to the police

In a Facebook post, the department wrote: “A man attaching a makeshift rubber bumper to his car doors with wires and duct tape to prevent dents sparked a massive federal, state and local response to a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.

‘All businesses on the shopping square were evacuated for almost two hours as a precaution. Schools in the Seigel school zone were placed on lockdown while the investigation was ongoing due to the address associated with the vehicle’s license plate.

“A supervisor from the Murfreesboro Police Department eventually reached the car’s owner by phone. He stood across the street with the other evacuee the entire time, unaware that it was his car promoting the bomb threats.

“The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Special Operations Unit responded and cleared the scene after examining the vehicle.”

Because there was no “intent to cause damage,” police have said the owner will not be charged. It is not yet known who made the emergency call to the police.