A Lake County man has been arrested after allegedly making a bomb threat against a Dollar General store in Mecca Township.

According to a police report, an employee at the store had called 911 on Thurday, February 2 in reference to a man in the store claiming to have a bomb in his backpack.

Upon arrival, police located the suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Eric Amaral of Wickliffe, Ohio. Police say Amaral tossed his backpack and began walking away from it has he saw officers approaching.

Police say Amaral was handcuffed and detained without incident. Immediately after being detained, Amaral allegedly told police he had lied to the employee about having the bomb.

Police checked the bag and verified that no bomb was present inside.

Store employees told police Amaral had asked to use the phone, but was told it was for employees only. Amaral allegedly told the employees he had a bomb in his backpack and he would set it off if they didn't allow him to use the phone.

Police say the employees allowed him to use the phone after the alleged threat.

Amaral was booked into the Trumbull County Jail and is charged with one count of inducing panic. He was arraigned in the Trumbull County Central District Court on Friday, February 3 and will return for a pretrial hearing Wednesday, February 8.