PALATKA, Fla. — Additional charges have been filed against a man who police say hospitalized a deputy with a chlorine-based device during a Palatka traffic stop as another Crescent City man is in custody on gun and drug charges.
The driver, identified by deputies as Charles Legault, 60, was detained at the scene and booked April 5 following the traffic stop at Moseley and St. Johns avenues. According to the sheriff's office, the deputy was conducting a search inside Legault's vehicle when an unknown, white chemical powder exploded in his face from a "makeshift pipe bomb."
The deputy, who was taken to the hospital and later recovered, was conducting a search inside Legault's vehicle when an unknown, white chemical powder exploded in his face, police said.
An employee at a nearby hotel told First Coast News she heard "a loud boom" and that the deputy started coughing and wiping his face.
The vehicle was deemed safe by St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad and a search warrant was issued for a formal search of Monday.
During the search of the vehicle detectives located more than 30 grams of methamphetamines. Legault received additional charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of a suppressor during commission of a felony, maintaining a drug vehicle, armed trafficking of methamphetamine with a firearm and trafficking of methamphetamine with a suppressor. Legault is being held at the Putnam County Jail without bond.
On Wednesday in Crescent City, the sheriff’s office received a search warrant for Legault’s residence at 219 Southern Ave., with deputies requesting the St. John’s Sheriff’s Office bomb squad and St. John’s Fire-Rescue Hazardous material team.
Crescent City man Patrick McGregor, 64, was living at the home, deputies said. Inside, detectives found "trafficking amounts of methamphetamine," firearms and ammunition.
McGregor was taken to the Putnam County Jail and not given a bond. He's charged with three counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 15 counts possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of drug possession and one count of drug equipment possession.
"There were no additional homemade devices or bomb making items in or around the home," deputies said.
