Bomb threat suspect wants name changed to ‘Mr. Lunatic'

A Fulton County judge set bond Friday for the Kennesaw man who allegedly told Atlanta police Thursday night that he had left an explosive device in a Kroger parking lot, forcing authorities to shut down Peachtree Road for several hours.

But Magistrate Roy Roberts denied a request by defendant Allen Michael Cullpepper that his name be changed to "Mr. Lunatic."

Cullpepper, his arms covered with numerous tattoos, including one of a pentagram, and his fingernails and toenails painted black, refused an interview with the county's pretrial services office before his hearing at the Fulton County Jail.

Roberts told Cullpepper that he would have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation that determines he is no threat to persons or property before he can be released from jail on $71,000 bond.

After Roberts's bond ruling, Cullpepper rose and made his request to change his name in court records to "Mr. Lunatic." The judge quickly denied the motion and Cullpepper made no further comments.

According to public defender Stephanie Mutti, Cullpepper is an Army veteran on permanent disability and lives with his mother in Kennesaw.

Prosecutors asked that bond be denied, saying that Cullpepper is on probation for a 2006 aggravated assault conviction in Cobb County and has other prior convictions for felony obstruction and making terroristic threats.

Police went to the shopping center near the Brookwood Interchange around 9 p.m. Thursday after receiving a  a report of a suspicious individual in sitting in the Kroger parking lot.

"When the officer approached the male, he advised the officer he had a detonator," Jones said. "The officer retreated, notified his supervisor and they called SWAT."

Peachtree Street in that area was then closed for about two hours  while officers looked for a bomb.

Jones said  no explosives were found.

Jessica Wilbanks lives in the area and told the AJC she wasn't allowed to cross Peachtree Street as she walked from her apartment.

"I was walking to Kroger from my apartment ... cops were swarming from all directions of Peachtree," Wilbanks said via e-mail. "I asked what was going on and (a cop) just waved frantically for me to turn around."

When she drove in her car to another Peachtree Street grocery store north of the Kroger, Wilbanks said she returned to full-blown police activity.

""They were taping off the street with crime scene tape," she said. "On my way back ... Peachtree was completely blocked and the cops were not stating why."

Cullpepper was taken into police custody without incident after his car was searched and his wife was called to the parking lot, Jones said.

"He remained calm the whole time," said Jones.