Can you smell it?’: Florida man tells Home Depot worker he has bomb in his backpack that ‘could explode at any time,’ cops say
Inset: Timothy Aviles (Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center). Background: The Home Depot hardware store in Miami-Dade County, Fla., where Timothy Aviles allegedly made a false bomb threat (Google Maps).
A Florida man allegedly made a bomb threat at a Home Depot after being confronted by a loss prevention officer for shoplifting, authorities say. Timothy Aviles, 37, reportedly told the officer he had explosives in his backpack while asking, “Can you smell it?”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, Aviles “pulled out a pack of lighters from his pocket” after leaving the store and acted as if he were about to ignite something. Concerned for safety, the loss prevention officer took the lighters and contacted an off-duty Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy working at the store. The deputy detained Aviles, who allegedly continued threatening the store and people nearby, prompting the Miami-Dade bomb squad to be called and the Home Depot evacuated.
“[Aviles] stated again that there was a bomb in his backpack,” the complaint says.
A search of Aviles’ bag found no explosives. Instead, police discovered two stolen Tide detergent bottles. The total value of the stolen items was around $25.
The complaint notes that the loss prevention officer witnessed Aviles place the detergent bottles in his backpack and the lighters in his pocket. When confronted, Aviles allegedly dropped his backpack and claimed there was a bomb inside that could explode at any time.
Records show Aviles has prior convictions dating back to 2019, including a petit theft charge earlier this year. He refused to speak with investigators.
Aviles faces one count of making a false report about a bomb or explosive and one count of petty theft. He was being held Thursday on a $7,500 bond and ordered to stay away from Home Depot.
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