Police: Man threatened to 'shoot people' at court

MARIETTA, Ga. - A man is in custody after police say he was observed in the bathroom of a Marietta Municipal Court talking to himself about shooting people.

Officials say 40-year-old Marietta resident Phillip James Collins has a lengthy criminal history and has a history of being threatening.

The incident happened on Thursday, May 24 before 1 p.m. when a witness told a court probation officer that they saw Collins holding a gun and saying he was going to shoot people. Prior to entering the bathroom, he had been blocked from entering the court after refusing to let his backpack be inspected, officials said.

Collins had already left the court when he was taken into custody without incident.

He has been booked into Cobb Adult Detention Center with a charge of felony terroristic threats.

In a statement, Marietta police applauded the diligence of court bailiffs Henry Clark and Charles Butler.

"Had they not prohibited Collins from entering the court the outcome may have been tragically different," the statement said. "Their handling of this matter protected numerous employees and citizens inside the courtroom and associated offices."