PANAMA CITY — A Panama City man faces new charges after authorities say he threatened to blow up federal offices located in the Panhandle city.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the new charges Friday against Johnathon Mathew Garrett, 38.
He allegedly called the Social Security Administration offices angrily several times Wednesday and used profanity. Officials said he told an employee during one call that he was going to “come down there” and “blow” the building up. The call triggered the evacuation of the office, and a bomb detection and disposal team responded and searched the area.
Garrett eventually was arrested at his home after a struggle with law enforcement, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release. He originally was charged with two counts of resisting arrest with violence, but now faces a federal charge of giving false information to the Social Security Administration.
He could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted of the charges.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Panama City Police Department and Bay County Sheriff’s Office.