Bombs Rock the Beauregard, Vernon Communities

By J. Shirlene Cooper
The Times of SWLA



Two churches in Beauregard Parish and one in Vernon Parish were the targets of vandalism, burglary and bombs just prior to the Fourth of July weekend.

Four men, between the ages of 17 and 21 years old have been arrested in connection with the incidents, as well as the burglary of a fireworks stand and a Frito Lay delivery truck, which was parked at a distribution plant on the LA 3226 bypass, between DeRidder and Rosepine.

Sidney Flether, 21, and Timothy Free, 18, both of DeRidder; and Nathan Lee and Anthony Martin, both 17 years of age, and both of Rosepine were arrested Thursday morning, July 2, bringing several hours of criminal activities to an end.

According to Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office (BPSO) Chief Deputy Joe Toler, officials believe the events began Wednesday evening with the vandalism of Cypress Creek Baptist Church, located on the bypass. Several of the building’s windows were broken.

Allegedly, the next stops for the four men were the distribution center, where the delivery truck was burglarized, and then the fireworks stand, which they reportedly looted.

It was the explosives taken from the fireworks stand, which were used to fashion the bombs- one of which exploded at Grace Church, in DeRidder.

The bomb at Grace Church detonated at night when no one was there. After church staff arrived at work on Thursday they suspected that the church had been vandalized or burglarized, and also discovered the broken window, which led them to notify the police.

Grace Champion Center bomb location-
A taped-over window at Champion Center at Grace Church is evidence of where a small hand-made bomb exploded on July 2, in DeRidder. The bomb allegedly was thrown or placed (see highlighted area in circle) just a few feet away from the church’s playground.

A Frito Lay travel mug, taken from the delivery truck, made up the casing of the bomb left near a window of the Champion’s Center at Grace Church. The bomb detonated, just a few feet away from the center’s playground area.

An exterior pane of a double-paned window was shattered by the blast, while the secondary inner pane was left intact.

George Lee Glass, pastor of Grace Church, said he arrived at the church on Thursday morning just shortly after the damage was discovered by other church personnel. He said that at first he suspected vandalism or a burglary.

At Three Pine Apostolic Church, located off of LA highway 112, east of DeRidder, a church worker spotted some men taking things from the building.

This person notified the authorities with a description of the vehicle as well as the license plate number, and DeRidder police were able to apprehend two men in the vehicle a short time later, while sheriff’s department personnel caught up with the two others who were still in the area of the church.

Pastor Dan Booth of Three Pine Apostolic Church said he believes the bomb at Grace Church may have been set as a diversion to keep law enforcement on that side of town, while his church was being burglarized.

Three Pine bomb location-
Inside the Three Pine Apostolic Church, southeast of DeRidder another, potentially more dangerous bomb was found in a chair, in the baptistery area (See highlighted area).

It was later determined that music and audio equipment were taken at the Three Pine Church, but during the initial investigation of the burglary at that place of worship, Rev. Booth said he had been assisting deputies in trying to determine what items were missing.

As they were clearing the area near the baptistery they happened upon what was first perceived to be an elongated flashlight.

Toler described the flashlight as a three D-cell battery flashlight with metal casing, much like the ones used by law enforcement.

Booth said that it first appeared that the flashlight, which was found lying on a chair seat, had been accidentally left behind by whoever had burglarized the church. However, upon closer scrutiny, it was discovered that the flashlight was resting on and attached to a long fuse.

At this point the area was immediately cleared and a Hazmat Team member from Beauregard Parish was notified. This bomb technician, skilled in EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) arrived on the scene with a robot recovery vehicle, which removed the bomb and detonated it in the church parking lot.

Toler said that had the bomb exploded inside the church it had the potential to do much damage, and because it had been placed in an area which adjoined the living quarters of church leaders, “it could possibly have killed someone.”

Toler explained that once the exploded bomb was found at Grace Church, “it spurred a parish-wide search of all churches,”—no small task in a city once included in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most churches per capita.

Additionally, the BAMA (Beauregard Area Ministerial Alliance) was contacted and church leaders notified to check churches and church grounds for suspicious looking items or items that may have been out of place.

Local news media also were contacted and asked to issue an immediate caution via television and the internet.

To date, no other explosive devices have been reported or discovered, and the investigation is ongoing.

Toler said that from the beginning, the investigation was a combined effort of the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, the DeRidder Police Department and the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Because the crime is a federal offence, the F.B.I. was notified also, but they are no longer involved in the investigation.

Toler attributed the quick notification, response and arrests to the teamwork of those involved. “Everybody was in the right place at the right time,” he said.

The pastors of both Beauregard Parish churches expressed concern for the young men involved and their families.

“I am mainly concerned with those that made the mistakes,” said Rev. Glass. On behalf of Grace Church, he added, “We are a great community with connections to these families. Our prayers are for them.”

Having first believed the incident to be a simple burglary, Rev. Booth said he was not surprised at what happened, considering current times. He, too, said, “We are praying for these gentlemen that they learn from their mistakes.”

Individually, Fletcher, Free, Lee and Martin have been charged with one count aggravated burglary, one count of theft, two counts of manufacturing and possession of a bomb, and two counts of simple arson of a religious building.

They also face additional charges, in Vernon Parish, of theft, simple burglary, and criminal damage to property, vandalism and discharging an incendiary device.

Defense council has been assigned in the case. Attorney Tony Bennett will represent Fletcher, Attorney Sam Jones will represent Free, Attorney David Wallace will represent Lee and Attorney Mitch Evans will represent Martin.

As of press time, all four men remain in the Beauregard Parish Jail, with bonds set at $90,000 each.