A Florida man accused of planting explosive devices in bathrooms at Hard Rock Tampa made a brief court appearance on Tuesday to seek a continuance. He faces up to 30 years in state prison.
Brian Eckley, 46, is accused of placing the “crude” remote-controlled devices in men’s bathrooms at the casino on Sept. 29 and 30. As a result, Hard Rock Tampa had to evacuate twice in 24 hours to allow the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Disposal Team to remove the threats.
Eckley—who pled not guilty—faces two counts of making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging any destructive device and will next appear in court on Nov. 14. Though initially represented by a public defender, Eckley has since hired attorney Anthony Rickman.
Suspect Allegedly Used Cash, Burner Phone, Alias
At an Oct. 31 press conference, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Seminole Police Department, FBI, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Eckley’s previous-day arrest.
Lieutenant Ken Azpeitia, who led the investigation for the Seminole Police commended the agencies involved in the arrest.
On behalf of the Seminole Police Department of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, I want to acknowledge and thank the organizations and individuals who have been instrumental in helping us make this important arrest. Public safety is our highest priority, and your teamwork and expertise have helped us to ensure public safety.
Mark Brutnell, FDLE Tampa Bay special agent in charge, said initially, authorities had little to go on after discovering the devices. However, investigators found the forensic evidence at both scenes matched.
All we had that morning was an unknown suspect who placed two devices in a public place, and he might do it again. We had zero leads. We had nothing to go on.
Brutnell said investigators soon learned that Eckley was spotted acting suspiciously in the casino only days before the devices’ discovery. The unique characteristics of the Ford Explorer he was driving allowed investigators to track down the vehicle’s previous owner.
They later discovered that Eckley had purchased the vehicle in cash, using an alias and a burner cellphone. Further, Brutnell said surveillance video shows Eckley modifying his walk while in the casino.
This individual did everything he could to conceal his identity. He used a mask; he used an alias; he used several burner cellphones; he used cash transactions.
He will be held accountable for his actions and actions that could have endangered many lives.
Eckley Arrested on Unrelated Gun Charge
Brutnell added that the Hillsborough Sheriff arrested Eckley a few days prior over a separate incident involving aggravated assault with a weapon.
In that case, police have accused Eckley of firing a gun into the air on someone else’s property after a political disagreement. Authorities later arrested Eckley at his home in Westchase. According to one of two arrest warrants filed on Oct. 31, investigators later searched that home for “any items of evidence used in the making of explosive devices.”
Authorities conducted the second search at Eckley’s Tampa-based company, Protex Roofing. The company’s website lists the Tampa native as its founder, with ties to Plant High School and the University of South Florida.
Eckley’s attorney, Rickman, told Fox 13 that he requested the continuance to review the state’s evidence against his client.
He’s presumed innocent. We’ve entered that plea of not guilty in his defense. At the end of the day, the state has to prove these charges. Ultimately, I’d ask that anyone wait to pass judgment, wait until all the facts come out. And ultimately, once all those facts come out, I believe the evidence will show that he’s not guilty.
Ultimately, he said it’s up to the state to prove its accusations.
He’s a business owner. He’s a father. He’s a family man. At the end of the day, the state has to prove these charges, and we anticipate putting up a very good defense in this case.
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