Sampson County blast that left 2 SBI agents hurt raises questions about suspect's past run-in with the law
Monday was a much quieter day on the Sampson County property where just three days ago law enforcement officers were detonating explosives on property allegedly owned by the man whose chemicals were linked to blasts that injured two State Bureau of Investigation agents on Friday.
Posted — UpdatedA GoFundMe account has been set up to help both agents, and it has raised nearly $15,000 for the pair.
Jimmy Tyndall, 33, of Dunn, is facing several charges, including three counts of possession of weapons of mass destruction, misdemeanor larceny, speeding, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamines, authorities said during a press conference last week.
He was being held Monday at the Sampson County jail under $151,000 bond. He is expected to return to court on Aug. 29.
Both agents were at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center for medical treatment.
Friday's explosions were the culmination of run-ins with law enforcement officers that began over a year ago.
According to court documents, deputies found Tyndall and his girlfriend, Madison Johnson, sleeping in a car in May 2018. The car was searched, and investigators found a pipe bomb and drugs.
Johnson's file shows that she took sole responsibility, and she was charged with having a weapon of mass destruction and drug possession. In October 2018, the mass destruction charge was dropped, and she was sentenced to 24 months on probation on the drug charge.
So why didn't this raise any red flags about Tyndall, and did investigators think about searching Tyndall's home at that time?
"Uh, not really, you know," Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said. "Everything is on the spur of the moment. It's a judgment call."
Last Thursday, law enforcement officers stopped Tyndall as he was driving down the road from his parents' house.
He was wanted on an outstanding theft warrant in Harnett County.
His car was searched, and investigators located an explosive device and drug paraphernalia
This prompted them to search the house where he lives with his parents.
During that search, officers found several bombs before the blast that left the two SBI agents hurt.
Luper and Joy took dozens of items in the search, including material used to make bombs and spent explosives.
Court documents show that investigators found a chemical called sodium azide, fuses and spent explosives in addition to illegal drugs.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
