Police Investigating Bomb Threat Near Underground Atlanta

UPDATE 12:28 p.m.:

Authorities have identified the man driving the SUV as 45-year-old Chester Thomas Akins of Homer, Georgia, reports The Journal-Constitution. He was arrested on Tuesday morning after Banks County authorities alerted Atlanta police about the fugitive. Atlanta police Sgt. Greg Lyon said officials "tracked him to this area and told us he was driving one of two vehicles.”

Akins had been arrested and charged on June 15 with three counts of criminal damage to property under the Family Violence Act as well as one count of theft, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office says. This was in relation to an incident that occurred at his home on Sunday morning.

On Sunday, Akins home and surrounding area were cleared and investigated by a bomb squad and K-9 team after he allegedly told his girlfriend a bomb was in their home.

UPDATE 9:31 a.m.:

Authorities have reopened streets around the Underground Atlanta, reports the Journal Constitution.

Officials were seen removing a briefcase from a white Chevrolet Tahoe and opening the case. No bomb was found in the briefcase.

Original Story:

Atlanta police are investigating a bomb threat near an area of Underground Atlanta, reports the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A car being driven by a fugitive was parked near the Atlanta Police sub-station at Underground Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, reports WAGA-TV. The Underground is a shopping, restaurant and entertainment hub in downtown Atlanta.

Police believe a suspicious package was located inside the vehicle although there has been no explanation for why they initially approached the vehicle and the driver. Officials have shut down several streets in the area in response to the possible threat. The suspect has been arrested, officials say.

Several units are currently on the scene, including a SWAT team, the Atlanta Police Department and bomb-sniffing dogs.