Published on: October 31, 2024, 01:40h.
Last update: October 31, 2024, 01:51h.
A man was apprehended on Wednesday for purportedly planting two explosive devices in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida last month.
Bryan Robert Eckley, 45, from Tampa, Fla. was charged with two counts of making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging a destructive device with the intent to cause harm.
He is being held in custody this week at Hillsborough County Jail. No bail has been set. In the event of a conviction on the charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Building Evacuated Twice
The devices were found in a restroom on September 29 and 30, prompting authorities to evacuate the premises twice in a 12-hour period.
The devices were described by law enforcement as a “crude concealed device with firework components.”
Eckley used a burner cell phone during the incident, as per the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The devices were radio-controlled, according to Florida TV station WFLA.
A casino staff member discovered the devices. A bomb squad from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was notified and defused the devices.
Eckley had his face covered and managed to escape, authorities stated. He was observed behaving suspiciously in the casino prior to the incidents, with no information provided on the reason for placing the devices at the casino.
“Eckley did all he could to avoid law enforcement,” stated FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell in a recent announcement. “However, due to the exceptional work of this investigative and forensic team, he will be answerable for his actions.”
Initially, investigators had little leads to identify a suspect.
That morning, all we had was an unidentified suspect who had placed two devices in a public area, and may do so again,” quoted Brutnell by Florida TV station WTVT. “We had no leads. We had no starting point.”
By using surveillance footage and examining the limited evidence, police managed to trace Eckley.
Past Detainment
On September 27, Eckley was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and discharging a firearm on residential property in Florida’s Hillsborough County during a disagreement with another individual over politics.
Following their initial confrontation, Eckley returned to the victim’s residence armed with two handguns and a rifle, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He purportedly aimed one of the guns at the individual and discharged a shot into the air.
Eckley, who reportedly owns Tampa’s ProTex Roofing, faces charges in relation to the incident, and the case is currently pending in local court.