A quiet O'Fallon neighborhood briefly turned into a blast zone on June 18, when what police describe as a homemade explosive detonated near officers, juveniles and other civilians. The explosion left a roughly two-by-two-foot blast site in a residential area but caused no injuries, authorities said.
Police say surveillance video shows a man lighting the device and tossing it roughly 100 feet from the people nearby. He was arrested and now faces multiple felony counts, with bond set at $500,000 cash only.
Police: Video Shows Device Lit And Hurled Near Crowd
In a detailed post on the O'Fallon Missouri Police Department Facebook page, officials said surveillance footage captured the suspect igniting an explosive device and throwing it approximately 100 feet from officers, juveniles and other civilians.
According to police, the device detonated in the 60 block of Country Field Court and blew out a roughly two-by-two-foot blast site on a neighboring property. Despite the dramatic impact, authorities reported no injuries.
Felony Counts And How Missouri Law Frames The Case
Authorities say the suspect faces counts including knowingly burning or exploding, property damage in the second degree and unlawful possession, transport or manufacture of an illegal weapon.
Under Missouri law, knowingly burning or exploding is classified as a Class E felony, while property damage in the second degree is generally a Class B misdemeanor. The text of those statutes can be found via the Missouri Revisor of Statutes for §569.055 and the Missouri Revisor of Statutes for §569.120.
The weapons allegation, police noted, refers to a statute that covers possession or manufacture of explosive weapons and related items; that law is codified at FindLaw as RSMo §571.020.
Search Warrant Uncovers More Homemade Devices
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the suspect's home, where officers say they found three additional homemade explosive devices stored in a garage locker. Bomb technicians determined those devices were homemade and exponentially larger than legally permitted consumer fireworks, according to an O'Fallon Missouri Police Department post.
The department identified the suspect as Jeffrey Louis and said he was charged with property damage in the second degree, knowingly burning or exploding and unlawful possession, transport or manufacture of an illegal weapon. Police said he is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
The St. Charles County Regional SWAT team and the St. Charles County Bomb Squad assisted O'Fallon officers when the warrant was executed, according to police, and authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information or video related to the incident is asked to contact the department's non-emergency line through the O'Fallon Police Department. Officials said additional charges or updates could follow as the investigation continues.
