A trip to the casino can leave a gambler fuming if the house takes his money.
One resident of the Sunshine State decided it was open season on them.
And a Florida man was arrested for this insane plot to wage war against a casino.
Florida man wires bombs in the restroom of a casino
Gamblers leave the casino upset all the time if lady luck is not on their side.
An unstable Florida man took his grudge against a casino too far.
Bryan Robert Eckley, 46-years-old from Tampa, Florida wired improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in men’s restrooms of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa.
The bombs could be detonated via radio controls.
Eckley planted the bombs one day after he was released from jail after firing shots at someone in an argument over politics.
A casino worker discovered the bomb in the bathroom which caused the facility to be evacuated.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Disposal Team came and safely disposed of the IED.
An IED was found in another restroom which prompted a second evacuation of the casino.
Eckley constructed the IEDs using components from fireworks.
Law enforcement averts a disaster
Eckley wore a surgical mask into the casino to hide his identity but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), FBI, the Seminole Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office managed to track him down using surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and interviews.
“Eckley did everything he could to hide from law enforcement,” FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said. “But thanks to the exceptional work of this investigative and forensic team, he will be held accountable for his actions.”
One of the IEDs was placed near a gas line.
The arrest warrant said if the IEDs “had they detonated, it posed a risk of serious bodily injury to anyone in the vicinity.”
Brutnell said that they were still trying to determine what Eckley’s motive was.
Eckley now faces two felony counts for making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging any destructive device.
The charges each carry a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
He was arrested in police custody for an aggravated assault charge when he was arrested for the IEDs.
“This case is a shining example of how our local and state law enforcement agencies work together to make our community safe. When you intentionally attempt to harm innocent people, you will be held accountable by my office,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said. “I want to commend each of our law enforcement partners for their swift actions that ensured this defendant’s arrest and prosecution.”
Seminole Police Department Lieutenant Ken Azpeitia led the department’s investigation which took place on tribal land.
“On behalf of the Seminole Police Department of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, I want to acknowledge and thank the organizations and individuals who have been instrumental in helping us make this important arrest,” Azpeitia said. “Public safety is our highest priority, and your teamwork and expertise have helped us to ensure public safety.”
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
