Sheriff’s Deputies in Collier County, Florida applied training gained from New Mexico Tech’s PRSBI-Tactical course. Several graduates of the PRSBI-Tactical course were assigned for service of a search warrant on a child pornography suspect. While performing the search they noticed numerous plastic tubes and empty cardboard which were recognized as items used in the production of m-80/90/quarter stick type explosive devices. They also located a green hobby fuse in close proximity. At that point, EOD was brought in to continue the search. Numerous additional items with IED/HME components were found on the scene. These included fuses, tubing, commercially available fireworks, quarter sticks/fused HME, powdered Magnesium, Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium Nitrate.
Pictured above: Items found on the scene of a child pornography search
In addition, several Toe Popper devices were found. These devices consisted of PVC pipe and a 7.62 rifle round surrounded by an unknown substance and mounted on wood with a screw drilled into the bottom of the board in line with the primer (see photo below). EOD is holding these items for evaluation and testing.
Pictured above: Toe Popper devices found on the scene of a child pornography search
Both the Detective and SWAT team member on the scene commented that had they not received recognition training from the PRSBI-Tactical course, they would not have halted the initial child pornography search or communicated the presence of possible explosive materials on the scene. Their effective application of their training led to appropriate EOD involvement.
