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Police: Mesa Man Released After 42 Pipe Bombs Found At His Home

By Stina Sieg, Bridget Dowd
Published: Friday, August 31, 2018 - 12:29pm
Updated: Saturday, September 1, 2018 - 3:18pm
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Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Jeffrey Metcalf.

A Mesa man arrested after authorities found dozens of pipe bombs in his home has been released from jail on $50,000 bond.

51-year-old Jeffrey Dennis Metcalf was found to have 40 pipe bombs and materials to make dozens more, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He is facing 40 counts of manufacturing, selling and possessing prohibited weapons. 

DPS spokesman Bart Graves said officers evacuated nearby homes before safely removing all the devices.

“These devices were determined to be more than lethal because had added shrapnel, either internally or externally,” Graves said.

DPS officials say after a multi-agency task force learned Metcalf was in possession of explosives, troopers stopped his vehicle and discovered bomb-making materials inside.

In an interview with officers, Metcalf said he and his wife are separated and he built the pipe bombs over the past four years at her request. He described her as an “ultra-prepper,” who wanted to be ready if the federal government descended into chaos, authorities said.

Carrie Metcalf said she never asked her estranged husband to make any explosive devices and she had no idea that he had bomb-making materials.

*Note: This story has been updated from a previous version.