SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE

On November 7, 2013, at approximately 9:11PM, deputies responded to a 911 call at the 100 block of 21^st Avenue.  The caller reported that a suspicious device had been left on her kitchen counter by her husband. The caller noted that she and her husband were going through a divorce. The suspect was identified as 51 year old Vero Beach resident Randolph Troy Smith.    

Responding deputies found a grey pipe with a wire protruding from one end on the kitchen counter. There were several hand written notes laying on the counter in juxtaposition to the suspicious device. One of the notes read, “This is a [sic] explosive. Its [sic] a bomb.”

The residence was cleared of all occupants and the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad responded. The device was determined to be a hoax and did not contain any explosives.

Deputies began to search for Smith and it was reported that he had previously frequented the former makeshift homeless camps in the wooded area near the 5500 block of S. R. 60. Based in part on the suspect’s description including long grey hair and a beard, a camo style shirt, and traveling on a bicycle, Deputy Scott Sposoto located Smith near the Burger King restaurant at 58^th Avenue and S.R. 60 at approximately 10:15PM.

Smith initially refused Deputy Sposato’s orders to comply with the arrest but was taken into custody. Smith later told detectives that he left the hoax bomb and notes on the counter as he was angry with his wife.

Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, planting a hoax bomb, and resisting arrest without violence. He is being held in the Indian River County Jail on $11,000 bond.