ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — The 24-year-old man arrested Tuesday after he allegedly planted a destructive device at a behavioral health facility had been arrested in December and January on drug charges, according to arrest reports obtained by Action News Jax.
Police said Christopher Bell threw a box filled with contents which -- if configured correctly -- could have blown up in front of the River Point Behavioral Health center around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Bell had been arrested in December by the Atlantic Beach Police Department after officers were dispatched to the beach. According to the police report the call was in reference to a man "wrapped in duct tape acting bizarre and dancing on the beach."
The police report said Bell admitted to eating an unknown number of mushrooms, and police said they found marijuana in his car. The drug charge was later dismissed.
The arrest report noted that Bell is a Fort Lauderdale native who has lived in the Jacksonville area for five years.
Early Tuesday, SWAT surrounded Bell's apartment, and he emerged from the apartment several times with "edged-weapons" and swords, and according to police, Bell told officers that they were going to have to take his life.
Bell went back inside the apartment and came outside for a final time with what detectives thought was another sword.
Bell took a "Bruce Lee"-like fighting stance in front of a SWAT vehicle and began to advance toward detectives, according to police. SWAT Officer Matt Turner fired a shot at Bell from an AR-15 but missed. Another detective shot two foam ball rounds and hit Bell.
Bell gave up and was arrested. He is charged with making or throwing an explosive device and three counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.
Bell was also arrested in January on drug charges. Police said they found 18 grams of marijuana on him but the charge was dismissed.
After his arrest in early January, Bell was ordered to undergo a mental examination at mental health center on West 20th Street. He was told if he didn’t get care or treatment he could pose a threat to his own well-being.