Four Homemade IEDs Found in Wilton Manors Man's Home: Police

Four homemade improvised explosive devices were found inside the Wilton Manors home of a man who was taken into custody following a bomb scare, police said.

Gregory John Knepper, 58, is facing charges including arson and four counts of making or possessing a destructive device, jail records showed. He was being held on $250,000 bond Tuesday.

Wilton Manors Police and Fort Lauderdale Police's Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team served a warrant at Knepper's home at 400 Northwest 24th Street.

Inside, the officers found the homemade IEDs, with nails attached to explosives, police said.

During his bond court appearance before Judge John Hurley Tuesday, it was revealed Knepper told officers he used the devices for fishing.

"It's a stretch to believe that the nails underwater would somehow help catch fish," Hurley said.

Officials said the IEDs were 8-inch long silver cylinders with fuses hanging from both ends.

According to police, officers were called to Knepper's home Monday, after neighbors reported seeing a small brush fire in his backyard. When officers arrived, they found an explosive device and the bomb squad was called in.

The bomb squad detonated the device and Knepper was taken into custody.

Police returned to the home Tuesday after Knepper told them there may be two more explosives in the house, but no explosives were found.

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