Investigators arrested a man Tuesday after a two-hour incident where a road was closed due to sheriff’s deputies finding a “suspicious device.”

Joseph Daniel Wright, 28, Got No Lane, Portal, is charged with possession of a hoax device and first degree forgery, said Bulloch County Sheriff Noel Brown.

However, he did not give details of what the device was or reasons why Wright was also charged with forgery.  Further information will be forthcoming when the Bulloch County Crime Suppression Team completes its investigation, he said.

After making a traffic stop around 12:24 p.m. Tuesday, Bulloch County Crime Suppression Team members discovered the suspicious device and called for assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 5 Statesboro office. They closed down a portion of Hwy. 80 West near Akins Pond Road, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Transportation he said.

Portal Police and the Statesboro Fire Department also responded as precautionary measures while investigators and GBI special agents secured the area and examined the suspicious item, he said.

Wright was taken into custody at the time, and deputies opened the road back up shortly after 2 p.m., after determining the device was not an explosive and not a danger to the public, said Bulloch County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bill Black.

Wright is being held without bond in the Bulloch County Jail, detained on an investigative hold, according to jail records.

Black said additional information will be released upon completion of the investigation.

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.