Home » Police Arrest National Guard Member In Bomb Hoax

Police Arrest National Guard Member In Bomb Hoax

By  //  April 4, 2013

Suspect Also Brandished AR-15 Rifle

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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Police in Melbourne arrested a man Wednesday night for planting what residents thought was a hand grenade in their apartment.

William Ruben Soto Figueroa of Melbourne, 24, was arrested and charged with Armed Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Armed Burglary of a Structure with an Exploding/Dangerous Weapon and Planting of a Hoax Bomb. (Image courtesy of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

Sgt. Brian Dohaney of the Melbourne Police Department said about 9:22 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to 2260 Woodwind Trail in Melbourne in reference to a threat involving a hand grenade.

Investigators determined that William Ruben Soto Figueroa, 24, entered an apartment without permission of the residents and placed a live military issue incendiary/smoke signaling device on the floor among four adult women.

Dohaney said the women panicked and fled the room thinking the device was a hand grenade.

Figueroa returned and retrieved the device which he brought back to his apartment.

According to Dohaney, a few minutes later Figueroa returned and entered the apartment holding an AR-15 military style rifle which caused the women to further panic and call 9-1-1.

Dohaney said Figueroa then left the apartment.

Police established a perimeter and evacuated the apartment building.

Figueroa was taken into custody in the apartment complex without incident and officers found the incendiary/smoke signaling device in Figueroa’s apartment along with the AR-15 rifle.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad responded to the scene and collected the device.

Dohaney said Figueroa is an active member of the Florida Army National Guard, 715th Military Police Company, and is assigned to the National Guard Armory on Stewart Road in Melbourne.

He was arrested and charged with Armed Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Armed Burglary of a Structure with an Exploding/Dangerous Weapon and Planting of a Hoax Bomb.

The Melbourne Police Department continues to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) or the Melbourne Police Department’s Crime Tip Line at 321-409-2259.