Tampa Woman Accused Of Trying To Build Bomb In Walmart

TAMPA, FL — A Tampa woman has been arrested after store security said they found her attempting to build an explosive device while shopping in Walmart with her child.

Just before 6 p.m. Saturday, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies responded to the Walmart at 2701 Fletcher Ave. after a security guard said he noticed 37-year-old Emily Stallard roaming the aisles of the store and opening unpaid-for items.

The items included flammable materials, projectiles and matches, authorities said. The security guard called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and notified an off-duty Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officer who was inside the store at the time. The off-duty officer and the security guard approached the woman and detained her until deputies arrived, authorities said.

“This woman had all the supplies she needed to cause mass destruction at her disposal," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "Had it not been for an alert off-duty law enforcement officer and a watchful security staff at Walmart, she may have followed through with her plans to cause an explosion inside the store."

Stallard was arrested on charges of attempted arson of a structure, firebombing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse and battery on a law enforcement officer.