A Mesa man, Jeffery Metcalf, has been arrested for being in possession of pipe bombs. An Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) task force obtained and served a search warrant at Metcalf’s residence where a total of 42 pipe bombs were found along with material for the manufacturing of another possible 30 pipe bombs.
On August 28, the task force including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Phoenix Police Department, learned that Metcalf of Mesa was in possession of prohibited weapons. On August 29, the task force conducted a traffic stop on Metcalf and found bomb-making components inside his vehicle. Metcalf also advised he had pipe bombs at his residence and intended to dispose all of them in a body of water.
The pipe bombs were determined to have enhanced lethality because Metcalf added shrapnel to each device, either internally or externally. The task force, assisted by the Mesa Police Department, evacuated the surrounding homes and began safely removing all the devices by placing them in a containment vessel for transportation to a disposal area. Due to the construction of the bombs, experts had to use complicated methods to disarm the explosives.
Metcalf, age 51, was charged with Misconduct Involving Weapons.
“This situation could’ve had tragic consequences had it not been for the excellent work of DPS detectives, our counterparts at Phoenix and Mesa Police along with ATF. The investigation was yet another shining example of the unparalleled cooperation we enjoy in Arizona between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies”, said Colonel Frank Milstead, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
“The cooperative efforts of the AZDPS task force worked quickly and decisively to ensure public safety was not compromised”, said ATF Phoenix Field Division Special Agent in Charge John Durastanti.