Creek County suspected bombmaker arrested

MOUNDS, Okla. - A Creek County man suspected of making bombs and other explosives at his home is in jail.

Authorities arrested 46-year-old Mounds native Kent Bartell on Monday after his son reportedly brought an unexploded pipe bomb to Jenks High School "to show friends" on Nov. 26.

Investigators say when questioned, the boy told investigators his father had been making explosives and incendiary devices on his property for about two months.

Cellphone pictures and video confirmed the student's claims, according to the Creek County Sheriff's Office.

A search warrant of the home in the 18000 block of South Pickett Road served Tuesday uncovered "pipes, pipe caps with holes cut in the end for fusing, black powder, fireworks, and unexploded pipe bomb, and numerous other items," authorities say.

"The father apparently had been buying all of this stuff, and researching how to make it, so that his son could make all of this and they had been setting them off for the last couple weekends," said Creek County Sheriff's detective Chrissie Underwood.

A Molotov cocktail and something "similar to a napalm bomb" was also found. Investigators also reported a number of holes in the ground surrounding the home, a destroyed bowling ball and pieces of splintered wood.

Bartell faces charges of child endangerment and manufacturing or possessing any explosive device.