A Sebring man was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 13, after an object that appeared to be a partially completed pipe bomb was found in his tool cabinet at his place of employment.
The device was discovered by employees of E Stone USA in the Sebring Regional Airport Industrial Park, who called the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office at 1:51 p.m.
James Wayne Phillips, 37, of 13721 Ruby Terrace in Sebring, was not at work when deputies arrived, but was detained when he showed up for his shift at 3 p.m.
The device is a metal pipe with a closed bottom and a threaded top that was closed with a removable nut and had other characteristics that would ensure its effectiveness if it was used as an explosive weapon.
Due to the nature of the device, explosives experts were asked to assist in the investigation. A bomb technician from the Division of the State Fire Marshal examined the device and said that, even though the device did not contain any explosives, it had the characteristics of a fabricated improvised explosive device.
Phillips’ fellow employees said the device was nothing that could be associated with his job, and that Phillips was not authorized to use the welder he had used to construct the device.
Phillips was charged with one count of manufacturing or possessing a hoax bomb, which is a second-degree felony.
Note: Not all arrests result in convictions. Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
