PHENIX CITY, Ala., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Police searching an Alabama man's house after he was charged with shoplifting a television say they found military explosives stolen from Fort Benning.
Parrish Edwards, 31, of Phenix City is a civilian contract employee at Fort Benning in Georgia, just across the Alabama state line, the Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer reported. He is now charged only with shoplifting the television from a Sam's Club in Columbus, but is likely to face federal charges, police say.
Assistant Phenix City Police Chief Robert Casteel said Edwards ran from his house with what the officer called a "military grade distraction device" or "flash-bang" when he saw police approaching. He was talked into giving himself up.
Officers then searched his shed.
"We found some stuff in there, some explosives from Fort Benning," Casteel said. "We found the actual hand grenades. They are real hand grenades that have been traced back to Fort Benning."
Edwards may also be charged in Alabama with improper storage of explosives, Casteel said. He said the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also participating in the investigation.
