TWO JUVENILES ARRESTED FOR MAKING AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

On Thursday, August 20, 2020, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputy Murphy arrested juveniles Clayton Pinkerton (DOB: 12/12/2005) and Zachary Sullivan (DOB: 07/17/2006) for Possession of a Homemade Explosive Device, which is a felony.

On Thursday, August 20, 2020, at approximately 1:00am, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper C. Ball was traveling past 6422 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, Florida (Oak Griner Baptist Church) and observed Pinkerton and Sullivan in the parking lot. Trooper Ball stopped to make contact with Pinkerton and Sullivan due to the time of night and observed Sullivan concealing a black, plastic bottle under his sweatshirt. Trooper Ball inspected the bottle, in which he located firecrackers, gunpowder and a small piece of rope inserted into the cap to act as a fuse. Trooper Ball then contacted MCSO and Deputy Murphy responded to continue the investigation.
Deputy Murphy questioned Pinkerton and Sullivan, who both initially stated they had found the bottle on the side of NE Jacksonville Road while walking. Sullivan ultimately advised he and Pinkerton constructed the device at Pinkerton’s home by placing firecrackers and a fuse into the bottle, which already had gun powder inside. Sullivan also stated he and Pinkerton did not intend to detonate the explosive at the church, but they did intend to detonate it in the nearby area. Sergeant Larson with the MCSO Bomb Squad responded to the scene, confirmed that the device was an explosive and took possession of it per MCSO policy.
Pinkerton and Sullivan were placed under arrest for Possession of a Homemade Explosive Device and were later released to their parents.
**When a juvenile is charged with a felony their information becomes public record per FL. Statute 119. They were walking around with a homemade explosive device wanting to detonate it. This is a felony.

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