GBI Examining Cellphone Possibly Used in RitzUSA Threats

A cellphone that may have been used to send terroristic threats to employees at RitzUSA in Hart County has been sent to the GBI for analysis.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said the GBI will search the phone for anything that might tie the woman to the threats made to Ritz.

The Sheriff said last week that they have a person of interest in the case who was arrested last week on unrelated charges. On Monday he told WLHR News the person of interest is a woman.

On Monday, June 20, multiple law enforcement agencies descended on the plant after two employees reported receiving threatening texts from an unknown source.

Officers with the Hart County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol stayed through noon Monday then left after it was determined the threat had no merit.

Then Wednesday morning, it happened again when a supervisor at the plant received yet another threatening text saying black people would be shot.

That time, Cleveland said the call came from an untraceable cell phone number.

Again, Hart County Sheriff’s deputies, the Georgia State Patrol, which is across the road from Ritz, and other agencies swarmed the plant which again went into lockdown.

However, by noon the lockdown was lifted and those employees waiting outside were allowed inside.

Sheriff Cleveland said Monday it could be some time before his office gets the results back from the GBI.

WLHR News is continuing to follow this story and will bring you more information as it becomes available.