Tennessee man threatened to kill public officials, kept explosive devices in his home, authorities say

Authorities in Tennessee have arrested a person who threatened to kill public officers and had explosive units in his Polk County dwelling.

Polk County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday executed an arrest warrant for 54-year-old Kevin Wade O’Neal at his home in Outdated Fort, an unincorporated neighborhood about an hour east of Chattanooga, for allegedly threatening to kill public officers and regulation enforcement personnel, in accordance with a information launch.

Throughout the arrest, the deputies noticed what seemed to be an improvised explosive system. They alerted the Chattanooga Police Division Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for additional investigation, officers mentioned.

ATF brokers, together with native authorities, searched O’Neal’s residence and located 14 explosive units, the information launch mentioned. Investigators additionally decided that O’Neal tried to detonate the explosives upon the officers’ arrival and whereas they have been trying to apprehend him.

O’Neal was charged with 9 counts of tried first-degree homicide for the 9 Polk County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies who have been current throughout his arrest.

O’Neal additionally faces two counts of tried first-degree homicide for different people current, and varied fees for possession of prohibited weapons. He’s being held on the Polk County Jail, and his bond has but to be decided. 

It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not he had an lawyer.