Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo released information Tuesday about Monday’s standoff at Kinser Flats in the 1600 block of N. Kinser.
Jayden Grubb, 23, who was facing eviction from the apartment building, made a threat to use “military-grade explosives” inside the building, said Pedigo. Police determined Grubb had an active arrest warrant for possession of meth.
When police attempted to make contact with Grubb Monday afternoon, he began to yell at officers and threw a burning object at them. The officers retreated from the building, and the object began exploding. Police then evacuated the building, and the Critical Incident Response Team was dispatched to the scene to assist with taking Grubb into custody.
For several hours residents stood outside in the cold or took refuge on buses from Bloomington Transit, and Indiana University. Meanwhile, police continued to negotiate with Grubb, then finally used “less lethal techniques” to take Grubb into Custody.
A resident, who had been standing outside for hours, spoke derisively of Grubb, as police escorted him to a waiting police car.
Grubb is believed to have also set off an explosive firework in the hallway of the building around 6 a.m. Monday.
Pedigo said the Indiana State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team swept the apartment after Grubb was taken into custody Monday night but did not find any “military-grade explosives.”
Here is the entire text of Pedigo’s release:
“On January 10th, 2022, at approximately 1:40 p.m., officers responded to Kinser Flats, located at 1610 N Kinser Pike, for a report of suspicious activity. Upon arrival, officers met with the Property Manager, who reported to officers that a man living in an apartment on the second floor of the building had communicated with another person that they were in possession of military-grade explosives and had threatened to detonate the explosives inside the building due to his pending eviction. Officers were able to view camera footage and observed someone from inside the apartment throw a lit object, believed to be some sort of explosive firework, into the hallway of the building at approximately 6:00 a.m., which then exploded.
Officers were advised that the man inside the apartment that had communicated the threat was Jayden Grubb (23, Bloomington). Officers determined that Grubb had an active level 5 felony arrest warrant for the charge of Possession of Methamphetamine. Officers then went to the apartment and attempted to make contact with Grubb, who refused to exit a back bedroom of the apartment. A 34-year-old woman eventually emerged from the bedroom and later told investigators that Grubb had confined her inside the room and would not let her leave when officers first arrived at the apartment and announced their presence. Grubb eventually began yelling and threatening officers, then slightly opened the bedroom door and threw a burning object at officers. Officers retreated out of the apartment and the burning object began exploding, which caught the carpet inside the apartment on fire. At this point, officers began evacuating the structure and members of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) were dispatched to assist.
Buses from both Bloomington Transport and the Indiana University Campus Bus Service were called to the scene to provide a warm place for displaced occupants of the building to sit while the event continued. Members of the Crisis Negotiation Team as well as a Police Social Worker responded and attempted to communicate with Grubb, but he refused to exit the bedroom and barricaded the bedroom door. Eventually, members of CIRT utilized less-lethal techniques in an effort to force Grubb out. Grubb still refused to exit the bedroom, so members of CIRT forced the bedroom door open and were eventually able to take Grubb into custody without further incident or injury.
After interview, Grubb was transported to the Monroe County Jail and booked for the following preliminary charges:
- Attempted Arson, level 4 felony
- Intimidation, level 6 felony (two counts)
- Criminal Confinement, level 6 felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement, A misdemeanor
- Outstanding Arrest Warrant (Possession of Methamphetamine, level 5 felony)”
