Rome officer involved in accident en route to bomb squad call

ROME, Ga. (WDEF) —  A traffic accident involving a Rome Police Officer claimed the life of one motorist Monday.

According to CNN, the officer was responding to a bomb threat at the residence of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The Rome Police Department posted a statement on Facebook about the accident, telling motorists to be cautious and avoid the area if possible.

CNN stated that the Rome Police Department (RPD) received the bomb threat by email, with the subject line reading “For Palestine”.

The email stated that a hidden pipe bomb was in Greene’s mailbox, and was set to detonate over the weekend or when opened.

As the officer was responding to the threat, they were involved in a collision, killing the other motorist, Tammie Picklesimer.

The officer was not critically injured.

RPD’s bomb squad was able to rule out any danger at Greene’s residence.

According to CNN, RPD turned it over to the FBI, where they traced the email back to a Russian IP address.

Greene posted on X about the incident collision and bomb threat, stating:

I’m heartsick right now. I was just informed that an innocent woman died today in an auto accident involving a member of the Rome Police bomb squad who was responding to the threat at my home. My prayers are with Tammie Pickelsimer, her family, the officer who was injured, and the entire Rome Police Department. These violent political threats have fatal consequences. It’s an undue strain on our law enforcement who must treat them seriously. The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act. The perpetrator of this crime has committed murder in our small community of Rome, Georgia. The police shouldn’t have to respond to these threats and there should not be deaths caused at their hands. I’m so thankful for everything the Rome Police Department does to protect our city and for putting their lives on the line to do it. I’m sick to my stomach, but I’m also angry. This should have never happened and I pray it never happens again.

-Marjorie Taylor Greene’s X