Teen makes bomb threat to Florida gay bar as a ‘joke’
Teen Randolph Goodwin allegedly made a bomb threat to a bar in West Melbourne, Florida, as a “joke.” (West Melbourne Police Department/Facebook)
A teenager has been arrested after he allegedly made a bomb threat to a gay bar in Florida “as a joke.”
Randolph Goodwin, 18, phoned gay bar Twisted Rooster in West New Haven Avenue in Melbourne on January 31 at about 4:45pm and asked what time it would be open, according to a press release sent out by West Melbourne Police Department.
After discovering that the venue is a gay bar on the call, Goodwin started screaming down the phone, threatening to blow it up.
Police traced Goodwin’s call to his flat and arrested him just before 10pm that night for making a false report of a bomb.
Teen screams down phone after finding out The Twisted Rooster is a gay bar
He was taken to Brevard County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
A bomb disposal team was sent to Twisted Rooster bar, where officers found nothing suspicious and confirmed that the business was safe.
“On 01/31/19 at approximately 4:45 pm, West Melbourne Police responded to the report of a bomb threat at 1220 West New Haven Avenue (Twisted Rooster),” West Melbourne Police Department posted on Facebook on Monday (February 4).
“We are strong and we will continue with our NO LABELS bar for this COMMUNITY. I LOVE US!!!!”
—Twisted Rooster
“The unknown caller was described as a male with a Middle Eastern accent.
“He asked if the business was a gay bar and what time the bar would be open.
“Upon learning the bar was a no labels bar the unknown caller began to scream that he was going to blow up the bar and hung up.”
Bomb disposal team finds gay bar is secure
The statement continued: “West Melbourne Police Detectives worked quickly with the phone company and were able to trace the blocked call to a resident in Melbourne.
“Randolph C. Goodwin admitted to Detectives he intentionally blocked his number on his cell phone and made the bomb threat as a joke.”
Twisted Rooster Bar posted a statement responding to the bomb threat. (Twisted Rooster Bar/Facebook)
The Twisted Rooster posted a statement on Facebook, sharing West Melbourne Police Department’s post and responding to the incident on Monday.
“It is 2019 and we still are appalled at this kind of behavior from our community,” it read.
“Twisted Rooster was one of the local businesses who received this threat. We acted upon it ASAP!!! We will not tolerate any kind of hate crime and it stops here!!!”
The statement added: “We are strong and we will continue with our NO LABELS bar for this COMMUNITY. I LOVE US!!!!”
