A 41-year-old Pensacola man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly pointing a firearm at people outside Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson and throwing an explosive device that damaged a nearby Jimmy John’s restaurant and injured an employee Saturday.
- Gregory Simonds has been charged with throwing a destructive device causing bodily harm or physical damage, display of a firearm during commission of a felony, felony criminal mischief, and improper exhibit of a firearm, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Witnesses from a motorcycle club told deputies that Simonds, wearing an Outlaw Motorcycle Club jacket, drove up to them and pointed a weapon before tossing an item from his window that exploded near the restaurant at 792 Beal Parkway. The explosion broke glass at the drive-thru and caused minor cuts to an employee’s back.
Deputies spotted Simonds on Lewis Turner Boulevard and conducted a traffic stop near Highway 85 and Nomad Way. They observed a black firearm on the front passenger seat and what appeared to be an explosive device.
- The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives responded to clear the vehicle, discovering four “M-type” explosive devices – thick cardboard tubes containing explosive powder with pyrotechnic fuses. Two firearms were also recovered from the car.
Simonds is being held in the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview.
“This type of menacing behavior won’t stand and we will use all resources of local and federal government to protect the public from this type of violence,” Sheriff Eric Aden said.
