Deputies: Hand Grenades, Guns Found Within Reach Of Child

VENICE, FL — Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies got more than they bargained for Friday when they stopped by a Jackson Road home in Venice to help a state Department of Children and Families investigator check on the health and welfare of a 5-year-old boy.

While they were all granted access to the 425 Jackson Road by the child’s mother, deputies wrote in an arrest report they quickly exited the premises after seeing drug paraphernalia, several rifles and handguns in plain sight. Those discoveries set deputies on edge, but it was the “two hand grenades and two cylindrical plastic objects with fuses that appeared to be pipe bombs” that prompted the hasty retreat, an arrest report stated.

Rather than investigate the discovery alone, the sheriff’s office called in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for assistance. Together, a deputy and an ATF agent spoke with the mother’s live-in boyfriend. He told investigators he was “aware that his actions of placing destructive devices inside the home, with the child, placed the child” and his mother in “great danger,” the report noted.

Further investigation revealed the child’s mother knew the devices were brought into the home about a month ago, the arrest reported stated. She was also aware of synthetic marijuana, or spice, being inside the home, within reach of the child, the report noted.

Deputies say at least one of the explosive devices has been determined to be active.

Steven Pace, 23, and Katie Smith, 24, now both face aggravated child abuse charges. Pace was also charged with four counts of possession of an explosive device and more charges are pending. Pace is being held in the Sarasota County Jail in lieu of $180,000 bond and Smith is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

It remains unclear just why the explosives were in the home.

Photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

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