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A man from Tennessee is facing multiple charges of attempted murder after allegedly attempting to detonate explosives while law enforcement officers were arresting him at his residence, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that 54-year-old Kevin Wade O’Neal was taken into custody on Friday and charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder for trying to harm nine detectives and deputies, along with 14 counts of possessing prohibited weapons and one count of having explosive components.
Officers went to O’Neal’s home on Friday to locate him due to warrants for his arrest related to threats against public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
Upon locating O’Neal inside the residence, detectives and deputies arrested him.
However, during the apprehension, the officers noticed something smoldering in the room where O’Neal was situated.
They discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (IED) and promptly evacuated the area.
Following the evacuation, the Chattanooga Police Department Bomb Squad and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were called in to conduct a search at O’Neal’s home, where they found 14 IEDs.
An investigation revealed that O’Neal allegedly tried to detonate the IEDs while officers were at his residence and during his arrest.
O’Neal has been charged with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder for the alleged attempts to harm the detectives and deputies present during the arrest.
He also faces two additional counts of attempted first-degree murder for trying to harm two other individuals who were present at the time of his arrest.
Furthermore, O’Neal is charged with 14 counts of possessing prohibited weapons, corresponding to the number of IEDs found, and one count of possessing explosive components.
O’Neal is currently being held at the Polk County Jail.
