Tennessee Officers Say Man Tried to Detonate IED During Arrest

Detectives and deputies of the Polk County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office served a warrant on a man’s home August 1 (2025) and found improvised explosive devices (IED). The sheriff’s office says the man tried to detonate one of the bombs during his arrest.

Kevin Wade O’Neal, 54, was taken into custody on active warrants issued on charges of threatening to kill public officials and law enforcement officers.

The sheriff’s office said in a press release that while taking O’Neal into custody inside his residence when they “realized something was smoldering inside the bedroom.”

Inside the bedroom officers found what they believed to be an IED. The officers evacuated the house and called for the Chattanooga Police Bomb Squad and ATF agents.

A search warrant was served, and the agents and officers found 14 IEDs inside the residence.

“Through their investigation, Detectives of PCSO and Agents of the ATF found that Kevin O’Neal (suspect) attempted to detonate the devices upon officers’ arrival and while they were attempting to apprehend him,” the sheriff’s office said.

Kevin Wade O'Neal is charged with nine counts of Attempted First Degree Murder for the Attempted Murders of the nine Detectives and Deputies of the Polk County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office. Officers say he attempted to detonate an IED during an arrest.

Credit:

Polk County SO/Facebook

O’Neal is charged with nine counts of Attempted First Degree Murder for the Attempted Murders of the nine Detectives and Deputies of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, who were present during the arrest. He is also charged with two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder for the Attempted Murders of two other persons present at the residence. He also faces 14 counts of Prohibited Weapons and one count of Possession of Explosive Components.