Yesterday, an EPD Officer transported Ahnna I. Tipton (19) to St. Vincent for an evaluation. During the intake process, a St. Vincent Police Officer discovered a suspicious item inside Tipton’s backpack. The object appeared to be a pill bottle wrapped in duct tape, with a matchstick protruding from the lid and a piece of cloth attached. A second suspicious item was also located in the backpack: an aluminum pipe sealed at both ends with duct tape. The St. Vincent Police Officer identified what appeared to be incendiary materials inside the pipe, accompanied by a strong chemical odor.
EPD’s Bomb Technicians responded to the scene, examined the recovered materials, and conducted an interview with Tipton. Tipton admitted to constructing the devices, which were confirmed by the EPD Bomb Technicians to be improvised incendiary devices. Tipton also disclosed she had two additional devices located at her residence in Warrick County. A judicially signed search warrant was executed at the residence, and the EPD Hazardous Devices Unit recovered two more incendiary devices concealed in modified Monster Energy drink bottles. These devices were constructed using the same methods and materials as those found in Tipton’s backpack.
During a post-Miranda interview, Tipton revealed that she had planned to deploy the devices at the higH school she previously attended, with the intent to cause harm to others. Tipton was arrested with the charge of ‘Possession of a Destructive Device.’ Thanks to the quick thinking of the St. Vincent Police Officer and the professionalism of our EPD Bomb Technicians, their diligence and teamwork prevented what could have potentially been a tragic event.
