Man faces charges after making false bomb threat at Jacksonville Burger King

The man who caused a big scare at a Jacksonville Burger King on Wednesday by saying he had a bomb in his backpack is now facing multiple charges even though a bomb was never found, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Police say customers and staff in the restaurant on North Edgewood Avenue had to be evacuated about 5:30 p.m. after 30-year-old Andrew Levon Pearce made the threat. But he refused to leave.

Now he's being charged with making a false report about placing or planting a bomb as well as criminal mischief greater than $1,000 or interruption of business or utilities, according to his arrest report.

According to the report, Pearce locked the doors to the Burger King and walked around for a while by himself before he would speak to police. Eventually, a negotiator was able to get him to come to the door.

When Pearce was asked if there was a bomb in the backpack, he said "no, I just said that to get y'all to come," according to the report. He eventually surrendered about 6:30 p.m.

Police say the bomb squad recovered the backpack and found a rain jacket and a phone charger inside, but no bomb.

Pearce was taken into custody on the charges and it turns out he also had a warrant for his arrest in Baker County for battery on a law enforcement officer, according to the report.