Lakebay marina 'bomber' released

Posted

Ted Olinger, KP News

The man who discharged a firearm and threatened to blow up the Lakebay Marina last summer was sentenced Feb. 23 to time served, court records show.

Russell B. Beery, 56, barricaded himself in the boat he was living on at Lakebay Marina Aug. 4, 2015, fired a shotgun into the air to warn off bystanders, and told responding police he would blow up his boat and the fuel dock.

Beery surrendered peacefully after a six-hour standoff with a SWAT team, bomb experts, divers and marine units. Court records indicate he was intoxicated and stated he thought "people were out to get him." The bomb on his boat turned out to be a small propane tank with shotgun shells taped to it. There was no bomb on the marina's property.

Beery was confined for mental evaluation and later pleaded guilty to one count each of threat to bomb or injure property and felony harassment. He was released from custody after 105 days and remains under community supervision. Beery is also required to pay court costs and reparations totaling $800, and is barred from contact with the Lakebay Marina property and staff.

The marina has been mostly closed since last summer but is scheduled to reopen Friday, April 1.


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