Florida Man Arrested For Planting Toilet Bombs At CasinoBombs Sniffed Out By Staff Before Exploding |
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A Florida man was arrested on Oct. 30 after allegedly placing radio-controlled explosive devices in toilets at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
Authorities say Bryan Robert Eckley, 46, of Tampa, placed the bombs in the toilets at the property. He now faces charges of making and setting destructive devices with the intent to harm, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
“Eckley did everything he could to hide from law enforcement,” FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said in a news release on Thursday. “But thanks to the exceptional work of this investigative and forensic team, he will be held accountable for his actions.”
Detected Before Exploding
The investigation began on Sept. 30 after an unknown suspect hid two explosive devices inside two restrooms at the casino. Employees later found the devices before they could cause damage.
Investigators later identified the suspect as an unknown male driving a white Ford Explorer. Interviews, surveillance, and analytical work then led authorities to arrest Eckley.
Days before the devices were discovered, Eckley was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in an unrelated case of aggravated assault with a firearm. FDLE forensic analysts tied evidence from that case to the devices.
The Seminole Police Department and FBI Tampa Field Division also assisted in the investigation. The name of the casino wasn’t immediately included in news of the arrest but the Tampa Bay Times reported that the property was the Hard Rock Tampa.
“This case is a shining example of how our local and state law enforcement agencies work together to make our community safe,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said. “When you intentionally attempt to harm innocent people, you will be held accountable by my office. I want to commend each of our law enforcement partners for their swift actions that ensured this defendant’s arrest and prosecution.”
Authorities haven’t offered a motive on why Eckley would plant the explosive devices in the casino.
In somewhat casino toilet-related news, a Pennsylvania woman has sued a property alleging that an overhead pipe burst while she was playing slots, dousing her in human feces and leaving her in the hospital for more than two weeks with an infection.
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