Tuesday, August 21, 2007









Know your Enemy on Domestic Terrorism. Pipe Bomb Suspect Denied Bond

Latest Developments

A man accused of threatening his wife and blowing up a pipe bomb near his in-laws' home appeared in court Saturday. The Suwanee, Ga., man faced similar charges just months ago.

Police charged Jason Lee Smith, 31, with one felony count of terroristic threats and acts for allegedly planting a pipe bomb near his in-laws' home, and threatening to kill his wife, Becky.

In court, Judge Wendell L. Peevy denied bond for Smith Saturday because Smith was already on probation in Jackson County. In December, Smith was arrested for making a death threat against one of his wife's relatives.

Neighbors said they witnessed the couple arguing earlier last week.

"He drove off and as soon as he drove off, she came banging on our door. She called 911, claiming she wanted to make a report that he had destroyed the house," neighbor Mandy Dixon said.

Police said that hours after the fight Smith set a pipe bomb that blew up in the Sugar Hill subdivision near his in-laws' house. No people or property were damaged by the blast.

During the ensuing manhunt police warned he would be armed and dangerous.

"Ya'll need to be prepared to rush out at a moments notice. Don't leave the house. Lock the doors," police said.

Smith's van was found abandoned in a business park on Sugarloaf Parkway. Smith finally turned himself in after apparently drifting in the woods for hours.

"Apparently he's been kind of wandering... just kind of maybe doing some soul searching," Gwinnett County police officer Valerie Southard said.

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