A convicted felon was arrested Thursday after police located a pipe bomb, drugs and an illegal gun in his Floyds Knobs home.
Zhale S. Penn III, 51, faces preliminary charges of class C felony possessing a destructive device and class D felony possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana less than 30 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to police, he could potentially face federal charges.
Floyd County Sheriff Darrell Mills said Penn gave his officers consent to search his home, located on the 5300 block of Navilleton Road in Floyds Knobs. Mills said the first thing the officers noticed when they entered was a sawed-off shotgun, which is illegal.
They also found a five-inch piece of PVC pipe that had black powder inside and a green fuse device. Mills said Penn never told officers why he had the homemade bomb, but Mills said it is a very serious safety concern.
“It could cause death to a person depending how close they are,” Mills said when asked how much damage a pipe bomb that size could cause. “If the device was detonated inside a car, it could blow all the doors off the car.
“So you can imagine what it would do to a person.”
The Indiana State Police bomb squad imploded the device at the residence. Mills said police also located “several pipe bombs that appeared ready to be made.” Those materials were taken into evidence.
Less than 30 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were confiscated.
Officers with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, were following up on a domestic disturbance case from May 2008 that involved a firearm.
Mills said an ATF officer was reviewing the report from the incident and noticed that Penn is a convicted felon. It is illegal for a convicted felon to carry a firearm.
Mills said Floyd County police never ran a background check on Penn after the domestic disturbance case because a case file was never opened. Mills said they requested Penn’s consent to search his home with the intention of looking for the firearm.
From 2001 until 2002, Penn served more than six months in the Department of Correction on burglary and criminal confinement charges in Scott County.
Penn is being held in the Floyd County Jail awaiting official charges from the prosecutor’s office.
Recent Local News
Police implode homemade bomb in Floyds Knobs residence
- Recent Local News
-
-
Floyd judge named semifinalist for Indiana Supreme Court
Granger, 42, said she decided to apply after discussions with her family and close friends.
“I care enormously about my judicial service, and I want to expand my work statewide,” she said. -
Indiana granted No Child Left Behind waiver
As the deadline approaches, more schools are failing to meet requirements under the law, with nearly half not doing so last year, according to the Center on Education Policy.
-
Democrats downsize: Clark County Democrats want to remove five precinct committee people for supporting candidates outside party
DeArk also said he never received a letter that said he may be removed as a precinct committeeman.
“As a matter of practice, I do not accept certified mail,” he said. -
Paying their fair share?
John Gilkey, president of the town council, said when Knott initially shared the information with him a few weeks ago, he was surprised to learn some residents weren’t paying any taxes.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 9, 2012
-
Daniels visits Jeff to sign book, talk right-to-work
-
Single father graduates from Family Drug Court
Carmichael said the carrot and stick in Drug Court is not going back to prison. In the Family Treatment Drug Court, the motivation is to get their kids back. The participants have pending Child in Need of Services (CHINS) cases.
-
Neace Lukens acquires Jenkins Insurance of Sellersburg
Jenkins Insurance principal Mike Jenkins will join the Neace Lukens’ New Albany office, where he’ll focus on his current employee benefit clients and expanding service and product platforms for the company.
-
Some lawmakers want you to cruise in for Sunday commerce
The current ban on motorcycle sales is a remnant of Indiana’s old “blue laws” that prohibited various activities on Sundays. The legislature has been slowly chipping away at them.
-
Court of appeals hears Messer appeal
Counseled by attorney Bart Betteau, the basis of Messer’s appeal was that his words were constitutionally-protected free speech. But Special Judge Roger Duvall upheld the merit commission’s decision in 2011.
- Holiday World owners take another step toward Louisville amusement park property
- Report: Calls to child ombudsman rose 42 percent
-
Checkered past: Cab company’s permit suspended in New Albany after employee arrests
“We’re not an evil company,” White said after the meeting.
-
Jeffersonville mayor, council disagree on hiring
Moore said he would veto the legislation, but include a recommendation that the three already hired positions be funded. Zastawny said the council would consider that recommendation.
-
GCCS OKs modified balanced calendar
The calendar for 2012-2013 closely follows the calendar adopted by the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation for the same year.
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
Floyd judge named semifinalist for Indiana Supreme Court
