Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina arrested a man on a weapon of mass destruction charge: FBI
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina arrested a man on a weapon of mass destruction charge during an FBI investigation that began in Florida.
In coordination with FBI – Jacksonville, special agents and task force officers in Wilmington took Edward James Timothy Joynt into custody on Saturday, February 14, 2026. He is currently facing a state felony charge of Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction. The joint investigation remains ongoing.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said officers responded to “a call in reference to what appeared to be explosive military items” at a home at approximately 11:07 a.m. on Tuesday.
Deputies then evacuated nearby residents to ensure their safety. The sheriff’s office said Lake County’s bomb squad was also called to respond.
Investigators and the bomb squad determined the explosives were stolen from the military and cleared the area of the hazardous items, the sheriff’s office said, adding that the FBI would be taking over the case.
In its initial announcement of a law enforcement presence in the area, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the evacuations in the surrounding area were done “out of an abundance of caution.”
While The Villages spans three Florida counties, this incident took place at a residence in the Village of Rio Ranchero, located in the Sumter County portion of the community near Spanish Springs.
