Crime & Public Safety
A Lower Salford Township man was arraigned last week on a felony charge of risking catastrophe and misdemeanor charges for stating he planted a bomb next to the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Doylestown Borough, Bucks County last month.
Jeffrey Edward Fountain, 30, of the 100 block of Adams Road, also faces misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats that cause a serious public inconvenience, disorderly conduct-fighting, and disorderly conduct-creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition, according to charging documents.
On Jan. 27, at 10:46 a.m., Central Bucks Regional Police were dispatched to the recruiting center at 99 Lantern Drive for a report of a man with a bomb, police said in an affidavit. The 911 caller reported that the man, identified as Fountain, was banging on the door to the office stating he put a bomb next to the building, police said.
Police arrived on scene and found Fountain outside of the recruiting center, sitting next to a backpack, according to the affidavit. Fountain was allegedly yelling about various topics. When asked his name, Fountain spelled his name, then jumped to another topic police said.
Fountain was allegedly highly energetic and exhibited rapid speech and shifted quickly between topics, police said. He told police he had just returned home from Chicago with his wife the night before and was art the office to join the Army, according to the complaint. He said he was from Harleysville, police said.
When asked if he had a bomb on him, he allegedly said, “In my menthol,” meaning his cigarette, according to the affidavit.
After speaking to Fountain for a few minutes, he allegedly began undressing and displayed signs of an elevated mood, police said. These signs included smiling, speaking quickly, and laughing intermittently, according to the complaint.
Fountain undressed down to his underwear and then police approached him from behind and he was handcuffed, police said. He was taken to Doylestown Hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said.
Investigators spoke with four recruiters who witnessed the event. One witness said Fountain was banging on the door and said, “IED right outside your door!” police allege.
Another witness reported Fountain had a backpack and was wearing gloves and said he had a bomb, police said. A third witness said Fountain told them he left an IED at the door, and a fourth said he yelled, “IED here!” while banging on the door, per the complaint.
At 10:50 a.m., Doylestown Fire Co. was dispatched to the same scene for a building fire, police said. Fountain had called 911 and reported the building at 99 Lantern Drive was on fire, according to the complaint.
Doylestown Fire Co. responded and determined there was no fire.
After Fountain was taken to the hospital, Middletown Township Police and K-9 Jax responded to the scene to conduct a search for explosive devices, police said.
No explosive devices were found with Fountain’s personal belongings or in his car, a gray 2015 Mazda 323, police said.
Fountain is free on $50,000 unsecured bail and has a preliminary hearing March 10 at 2:30 p.m. before Bucks County Magisterial District Judge Mark D. Douple.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
