Attack on Small Town Police Department Foiled by Tipster, Deputies Say

When Marion County deputies received a tip that two men were planning an attack on the Eustis Police Department and other institutions in the small Florida town with a “rocket propelled grenade launcher” and “missiles,” they may have thought they were hearing a script for an action film.

Even so, deputies took the threat seriously and obtained a warrant to search a property at 17450 S.E. 260th Ave. Road. While a grenade launcher and missiles were not found during Friday’s search, deputies did recover what amounted to a small arsenal of weapons, along with drugs – lots of drugs.

They’re also saying they “foiled” the plans of two men to execute an attack on the Eustis department that was set to go off on Monday.

“The tip also advised that the occupants of the shed intended to use the rocket launcher on the Eustis Police Department on May 18th,” the sheriff’s office reported in a media release. “The reason for targeting the Eustis Police Department was due to recent ‘run-ins’ with their officers.”

See Also:

• ‘Shawshank’ Fugitive Leaving Florida for Ohio
• Sleepy Burglar Caught Snoozing on Couch

All told, deputies seized quite a haul from a shed on the property. They recovered 22 firearms, multiple containers of black powder, more than a pound of marijuana, powder and crack cocaine, prescription pills, scales, other drug paraphernalia and two bullet proof vests, the release stated.

Christopher Michael Conger, 32, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, grand theft of a firearm, use or display of a firearm during a felony, wearing a bulletproof vest during the commission of a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of synthetic narcotics, Marion County Jail records indicate. He was being held Tuesday in lieu of $23,500 bond.

Jeremy Robertson, 29, was booked into the Marion County Jail on similar charges. He, too, was being held in custody as of Tuesday morning.

Eustis Police Chief Fred Cobb told Click Orlando he was taken aback by the news since his department had very few encounters with the two. The station also reported the men planned attacks on a local church and the Elk’s Club.

“It’s a reminder for the public that we serve that this is a dangerous profession,” the station quoted Cobb as saying. “Even in small-town U.S.A., Eustis, Florida.”

Eustis is located in Central Florida, just north of Mt. Dora. The town had an estimated population of less than 20,000 in 2008.

News of the alleged attack plot comes on the heels of several highly publicized police shootings across America. Two officers were slain in Mississippi earlier this month and a New York City Police Officer was also killed. On Sunday, a St. Petersburg Police officer was shot in the leg by a teenager, who was ultimately killed by police.

Photos of Christopher Conger (1) and Jeremy Robertson (2) courtesy of the Marion County Jail

Keep up with what’s happening around town and the state by signing up for your favorite Patch daily newsletter: Bloomingdale-Riverview, Bradenton, Brandon, Carrollwood-Northdale, Clearwater, Dunedin, East Lake, Gulfport, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Lutz, New Port Richey, New Tampa, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Beaches, Safety Harbor, Sarasota, Seminole Heights, South Tampa-Hyde Park, St. Pete, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Westchase.