Jimmy Reeves has a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The external components of the LVAD are kept in a vest that Reeves must wear at all times. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)
Updated 2-28-19 at 6:31 p.m. Despite reports from other media, according to CPD Sgt. Adam Clark, "Mr. Reeves has not been arrested at this time." A mug shot being circulated of Mr. Reeves is undated and from a previous arrest.
CULLMAN, Ala. – A Vinemont man who claimed to have been a victim of several false bomb threat calls in the Cullman area on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 confessed to the Cullman Police Department (CPD) that he made the calls himself. James "Jimmy" Reeves, 52, confessed to calling in possible bomb threats to Cullman 911 on five separate occasions. He also confessed to one call made in Morgan County. All the calls came from a private number. Sgt. Adam Clark was able to trace the calls with help from AT&T. He said each call came from a phone registered to Reeves.
On Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 Reeves, who has a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and his family said Reeves was struggling due to strangers and their lack of awareness of the life-saving equipment. The external components of the LVAD are kept in a vest that Reeves must wear at all times. Reeves said Monday that in the last two months, he has been approached or surrounded by police three times due to others mistakenly believing the vest is possibly holding a bomb. The last two incidents happened last Saturday at the Five Below store and Wednesday night at Ninja Steakhouse.
During his confession it was revealed that Reeves was calling 911 to report a man in a suspicious vest possibly having a bomb. He admitted to calling 911 from Publix, Wal-Mart, Harbor Freight, Five Below, and most recently, Ninja.
Police said they have no evidence to suggest that Reeves’ family and friends were aware that Reeves was the person making the calls. His daughter, Shyanne Sparks, recently asked The Tribune and other media to help bring awareness to her father’s condition. She hoped that by doing so the calls would stop. Upon her father’s confession, Sparks was visibly upset and declined to answer questions.
Reeves recently did several media interviews. After AT&T determined the calls were coming from Reeves’ phone, Clark said, “It’s obvious when you hear the interviews and the 911 calls that it was him (Reeves).”
The Tribune spoke to Reeves after his confession, and he said, “I wanted to feel like somebody again. I used to have friends. They used to talk to me and come see me. Nothing I can say- there’s no excuse for what I’ve done.”
Reeves has also called in bomb scares in Morgan County and could face possible charges in Morgan County, but he denies having any lawsuits pending against them.
Reeves addressed Chief Kenny Culpepper after his confession, saying, “I am sorry Mr. Culpepper. I’m sorry to the public. I didn’t mean to hurt you, the public, or your officers or the EMS. I’ve screwed my life up again. I just wanted to be somebody.”
As of Thursday evening, no charges have been filed.
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