Man with history of knife threats found with ingredients for explosive device in downtown IC
Lang
5/11/19
Iowa City Police say a Marion man with a history of making threats with knives was found with the ingredients for creating an explosive device Thursday night in downtown Iowa City.
Officers located 24-year-old Elisha Secrest of Meadow View Drive on the 300 block of South Dubuque Street just before 8:15pm, stopping him because he had an active warrant. A search of his person turned up multiple items used in making an explosive, including black powder, aluminum powder, fragments and fuel.
An explosives expert from the police force confirmed one of the items seized was an active device that contained all the elements of an explosive device wrapped in fragments. Also seized was handwritten paperwork listing multiple chemicals and labeled “Weaponized Chemical”.
Secrest was also found in possession of two pipes containing marijuana residue and one pipe containing a white residue consistent with methamphetamine. Police say Secrest admitted the pipes were drug paraphernalia.
Secrest is charged with Possession of an Incendiary Device With Intent, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over 11 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is set for May 20th.
Secrest is a former North Liberty resident who was arrested in 2014 after he allegedly threatened his girlfriend with a knife. The woman was able to turn the knife against Secrest and stab him. He reached a plea deal with prosecutors and was given credit for time served with ten days in jail.
Secrest was also arrested in June of 2013 after pulling a hunting knife on a woman and threatening to stab her during an altercation at the former Dolphin Lake Point Enclave on Highway 6 East. He was given a deferred judgment on weapons charges.
