A Florida man is facing legal repercussions after allegedly issuing a false bomb threat at a Home Depot store. The incident unfolded when a loss prevention officer approached the man, 37-year-old Timothy Aviles, under suspicion of shoplifting. Aviles is said to have informed the officer that his backpack contained explosives, asking him, “Can you smell it?”
The criminal complaint details that Aviles, after exiting the store, “removed a pack of lighters from his pocket” and behaved as though he was preparing to ignite something. The loss prevention officer, concerned that Aviles was about to detonate a device, seized the lighters. The officer subsequently reached out to an off-duty deputy from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office who was working at the store.
The off-duty deputy took Aviles into custody, who allegedly continued to issue threats against the store and its customers. This resulted in the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad being summoned to the location and the evacuation of the Home Depot.
The complaint further alleges that Aviles repeated his assertion that his backpack contained a bomb. However, a subsequent search of Aviles’ bag revealed no explosive materials. Instead, police reportedly discovered two stolen bottles of Tide detergent.
The loss prevention officer, who had witnessed Aviles place the detergent bottles in his backpack and the lighters in his pocket, identified himself to Aviles as he left the store. Aviles then discarded his backpack and informed the officer that it housed a bomb that could detonate at any moment.
The total value of the items Aviles is accused of stealing from Home Depot was approximately $25. A background check revealed that Aviles has previous convictions dating back to 2019, including one earlier this year for petty theft.
Aviles declined to engage with investigators and was subsequently charged and transported. He is currently facing one count of making a false report about placing a bomb or explosive and one count of petty theft. Aviles was held on a $7,500 bond and ordered to stay away from Home Depot.