Florida deputies discovered a live grenade in the truck of an “idiot” driver who was driving with a terrifying clown mannequin in the passenger seat, as shown in the wild video.
The footage released Monday by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office displays the instance when a deputy discovered the explosive discovery after Louis Branson, 65, was stopped in Bunnell for having expired tags on his Dodge pickup.
“Exit the vehicle, it appeared to resemble a potential explosive device,” footage depicts, a law enforcement officer inquires her colleagues upon uncovering the explosive inside a sealed container in the rear of Branson’s automobile. “Oh my, is this authentic?”.
Branson informed the deputies that he discovered the explosive device three or four years ago during the process of decluttering a residence belonging to a military veteran, and he made the choice to retain it.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Melissa Morreale stated that he was uncertain if it was operational.
Morreale was driving around with a grenade in his toolbox and he thought it was so cool, the post told him.
Another video demonstrates that the device was subsequently detonated without incident at a nearby facility. The explosive device, which was suspected to be live due to its internal workings, underwent an X-ray examination conducted by a team specializing in disposing of explosives.
Sheriff Rick Staly blasted Branson in a statement as an “idiot” who was lucky he didn’t kill himself or destroy his truck.
Officers discovered the full-scale clown dummy — along with quantities of cocaine, cannabis, and two pipes containing suspected drug residue alongside the explosive device.
“I’m honestly not sure how the clown fit in,” Morreale said. “It looked pretty human-sized. It was crazy.”Output: “To be honest
Branson, who has an extensive criminal history in both Georgia and Florida, admitted to deputies that his license had expired in 2019 and he needed to clear up the matter in Georgia. Additionally, Morreale, known for his address in Palatka, Florida, stated this information.
The charges he confronted included drug quantities and the possession of a firearm, weapon, or ammunition by a previously convicted individual, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with an expired license.
Branson was ordered held on $7,000 bond, Staly said. It’s unclear if he’s hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf.