Fernandina Beach Police Department
Press Release
James T. Hurley, Chief
May 25, 2017 5:08 p.m.
The Fernandina Beach Police Department arrested an individual this morning and charged him with making a false report of planting a bomb. David Anthony Moody, 28 years of age, was questioned after being detained shortly after the bomb threat was called into the local Winn Dixie Store.
At approximately 10:30 AM this morning, an individual called the local Winn-Dixie Store, saying “my name is Moody. I’m carrying a bomb and I’m headed toward downtown Fernandina. I’m going to the Marina.” The Fernandina Beach Police Department was familiar with multiple bomb threats from January and February 2016 and immediately began looking for David Moody, who had previously been arrested and convicted of similar threats. Sergeant Jon Hepler located Moody within ten minutes of the first call, while he was working in a downtown business.
The investigation revealed that Moody borrowed a cell phone from a co-worker and made several phone calls just before the police arrived at his place of employment. Evidence indicates that Moody asked a co-worker to search for the telephone number to the local Winn Dixie Store. There is also a record of the call made on the co-workers telephone to the Winn Dixie just before 10:30 AM. Police took Moody into custody and he was charged with making a false report of a bomb. Moody acknowledged making phone calls on the co-worker’s cell phone, but denies calling the local Winn Dixie store.
Moody was convicted in Federal Court on the charge of Hoax Threat of a WMD. He was sentenced in May 2016, and was given three years’ probation, one hundred and fifty hours community service, mental health treatment and full restitution to local and state agencies.