Suspect arrested in Mass. Walmart bomb threat

A Palmer man was arrested after he allegedly threatened to bomb a Walmart in Ware, which prompted an evacuation of the store on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Anthony Quink was exchanging a watch when he allegedly told the employee that “there’s a bomb going to go off, I’m getting out,” according to court records. Quink, 59, was also wearing a fake mustache, which was found in his pocket after his arrest, police reported.

Quink appeared in court Monday and pleaded not guilty to one count of threatening to bomb or hijack. He was ordered to Hampshire Jail in lieu of paying bail.

Ware police responded to the Ware Walmart on Palmer Road around 4 p.m. Sunday after the store’s management reported the threat. Police requested an immediate evacuation of customers and employees, according to court records.

Multiple other law enforcement agencies responded, including Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, local police departments, and the UMass Amherst’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9 unit, Ware police said. 

The bomb squads cleared the building, and the store was reopened around 6 p.m., Ware police said.

According to court documents, footage from the store showed Quink entering with a green bag in a shopping cart, which was found inside the store near check-out. An officer questioned Quink outside the Walmart.

“Anthony denied making a bomb threat and stated he said ‘boom,’” an officer wrote in the criminal complaint filed in Eastern Hampshire District Court. “When asked why he would say boom, Anthony stated he said ‘boob.’ That made no sense to me.” 

Police also thanked Walmart for their quick response to the threat.

“Ware PD would also like to commend the Wal-Mart employees and management for their swift action and cool-headed response,” they wrote on Facebook.

Walmart was contacted for a comment Monday evening.