30A NEWS DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN TRIES TO KILL EX-WIFE USING PIPE BOMB; ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES
Defuniak Springs, Fla— A Walton County woman discovers a backpack with wires hanging from it under her vehicle and a pipe bomb is later discovered.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious package in the area of South Verdi Lane Sunday September 13th after a complainant advised she was driving in town and heard a strange noise coming from under the vehicle.
Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and collected two wires attached to a rocker light switch and located what appeared to be a pipe bomb inside a backpack. The immediate area was evacuated as a precautionary measure and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was called in to the scene and disarmed the device without incident.
Further investigation revealed an ongoing civil dispute between the complainant and a suspect later identified as 30-year-old Kenneth Davis of DeFuniak Springs. According to the complainant Davis had made threats, reports of illegal activity to law enforcement, and further contacted the Department of Children and Families reporting allegations. Each incident was investigated and found to be false.
Probable cause for an arrest was obtained after a search warrant was carried out at Davis’ residence and several interviews were conducted. Davis was transported and booked into the Walton County Jail and charged with attempted murder, making an explosive device with intent to cause bodily harm, and filing false child abuse claims.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad for their swift assistance. Specifically Detective John Bell of the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and Lt. John Corley and Deputy Jeff Duggins from BCSO’s Bomb Squad. Thanks to the efforts of all of the agencies involved this situation was able to be resolved without incident. It is always best to err on the side of caution when dealing with suspicious items, such as this.
