A Linton man who allegedly said he was making a bomb to blow up the apartment where he lives, was first detained for a mental evaluation then arrested on drug charges after LPD officers executed a search warrant at his apartment.

Jack Arnold Menter, 58, Linton, was arrested by Det. Logan Hobbs of the Linton Police Department yesterday – Monday, February 7, on a warrant issued as a result of an investigation by LPD Officer Alan Jackson into an incident that occurred in mid-December.

LPD officers responded to Greene County General Hospital around 7:17 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, after a man who was there for medical attention for chest pains, identified as Jack Menter, made comments about having the components to make a bomb and that he was going to blow up his apartment.

Officer Jackson, the lead investigator into this incident, said when they arrived, he and Officer Caleb Walker talked to the hospital’s social worker who said Menter got agitated and started making comments about harming himself but then said he had gunpowder, nitroglycerin and another component to make a bomb and that he was going to blow up his apartment so he would die.

The social worker said she wanted to let the police know because if Menter was admitted for mental evaluation, he could only be held for 72 hours and didn’t want him to then do harm to himself or to other people. Menter, who lives in an apartment at East Camelot Court in Linton, had also said he had two guns inside his apartment.

When Officer Jackson talked to Menter, Menter said he had stuff at home to make a bomb and all he needed was a “time wick” meaning a fuse, but he said he was working on that. When asked why he was making a bomb, Menter allegedly said for several reasons including that there were child molesters around and people beating up on women. When asked if he had everything to make a bomb, Menter allegedly said yes. When asked if he knew how to make a bomb, Menter allegedly said he was self-taught and then he briefly described how to make one.

Officer Jackson reported that when he asked Menter if he wanted to level Camelot Court, Mentor agreed and said more or less. He also said he had multiple rifles and handguns inside his apartment.

When asked for consent to search his apartment, Menter then changed his story and said he didn’t have the items to make a bomb and would have to make a phone call to get them. Menter agreed to let the officers check his apartment but after Officer Jackson got the form and got back, Menter was asleep and wouldn’t wake up.

Due to the statements made by Menter and concern for the safety of the public, Officer Jackson filed for an immediate detention and requested a search warrant for Menter’s apartment. The searh warrant was approved and issued by Superior Judge Dena Martin at 10:40 p.m.  A little after midnight, the search warrant was executed at Menter’s apartment by LPD officers.

Officer Jackson reported that during the search, officers located multiple smoking devices/paraphernalia in one location including one that field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, a plant substance believed to be marijuana, another smoking device in another location that had a white residue that field-tested positive as methamphetamine, and in yet another location, multiple more smoking devices.

Officer Jackson also reported that during the search, they did not find any items they believed would be used to manufacture an explosive device or bomb and they did not find any firearms or gunpowder.

The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal case against Menter last Tuesday and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:42 p.m. yesterday/Monday, and was being held without bond pending court appearance.

The date for Menter’s initial hearing is not yet known.

He is facing charges of:

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.