EVERETT — A Snohomish County man described as “anti-government” and a doomsday “prepper” was in jail after officers found explosives in his car in south Everett, according to a police report filed in court Monday.
Around 8:30 p.m. Friday, the man called 911 to report a “blasting cap” had just gone off and injured his hand at a parking lot in the 8700 block of Airport Road in Everett, outside the Aerospace Machinists Industrial District Lodge No. 751. Everett police responded.
An ambulance took the injured man, Jeffrey Carlton, 39, to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Inside his car, police saw what looked to be a Styrofoam box and items “associated with the manufacturing of explosive devices,” police wrote. Members of a Washington State Patrol bomb squad arrived. Police obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and reportedly found a hand grenade inside. It was determined to be “live,” meaning it was an active explosive, police wrote.
Police interviewed the man’s wife, who reportedly referred to the man as a “prepper.”
The police report did not expound on any suspected plan for how Carlton would use the explosives.
Carlton, whose address was listed as west of Marysville, was booked around 10:35 p.m. Friday into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of possession of an explosive device and transporting explosive devices without a license. He appeared via Zoom at a bail hearing Monday.
Defense attorney Ama Okoro asked that Carlton be released from jail on a promise to appear at his next court date, noting all explosives found in his car were confiscated by police.
“Carlton is former military, honorably discharged,” the defense attorney told the court. “He has been working as a traffic control supervisor, dealing with public safety. … Carlton does not have any previous violent offenses, any previous violent crime.”
Deputy prosecutor Elliot Thomsen requested the judge maintain bail at $100,000, saying the defendant posed a danger.
“I’m extremely concerned that he will commit a violent offense if released,” the prosecutor told the judge.
Everett District Court Judge Anthony Howard maintained bail and found probable cause for the charges.
Carlton remained in custody Monday.
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen.
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