CPD officer recounts explosive situation at local restaurant

A potentially explosive situation was averted June 26 when members of the Crestview Police Department Street Crimes Unit apprehended a man who brought a pair of training hand grenades and a Samurai-style “katana” sword into the local Hooters restaurant.

According to the CPD incident report, the man stated on more than one occasion that he was ‘going to call the chief of police in Israel and have him come blow up Crestview.’

"This type of scenario is the exact reason we have a SWAT team,” Lt. Joseph Floyd said. “The potential for violence in that situation was high. He was in a crowded establishment. To an untrained person, they looked like real grenades. Most of the witnesses in there thought they were real grenades.”

Floyd said because the case involved the use of simulated explosives, it was reported to the local FBI office in Shalimar.

“They agreed with our assessment that the guy was mentally incompetent,” Floyd said.

Read the full story in the Wednesday edition of the Crestview News Bulletin.