Man planted explosive device in Tollgate home

The suspect is a convicted felon with a history of aggravated assaults, according to the police. Photo: Scott Rodgerson

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — 56-year-old Gary Lee Jamison was booked into Summit County jail on Thursday after alleged arson threats, according to Gephardt Daily.

Summit County Sheriff’s officials were called to the scene after Jamison “was making threats to barricade himself in the residence and burn the house down,” according to the probable cause statement published by Gephardt.

He “made threats to that he would burn the house down with two dogs inside to kill them.”

The house he was targeting belonged to his ex-girlfriend. According to reports, there was an ongoing domestic dispute between the two.

Jamison was detained by an officer when he tried to exit the neighborhood along Tollgate Canyon Road. The officer found a loaded .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver in Jamison’s vehicle.

“Deputies responded to the residence and reported an odor of propane outside of the residence. Due to safety concerns, the fire department was called to the scene. Fire personnel turned off the main gas line to two separate propane tanks for the residence.”

“I observed an exterior door was barricaded from inside the residence,” said the officer’s probable cause statement. “The window to the door was covered in tape and aluminum foil so you could not see inside the residence from outside.

“I continued clearing the downstairs and located an additional propane tank connected to a yellow flexible gas tube that was left. The other end of the yellow tube was not connected to anything, it was left sitting out in the open air of the residence. I observed a battery charger sitting next to the propane tank. The battery charger was plugged into a battery that was next to two other car batteries. I observed additional wires that appeared to be connected to another power source.”

Fire officials said the setup appeared to be a propane explosive device.

A witness told police that “it was about to get real shitty around here with police involved,” and added that “it was going to be like Ruby Ridge here,” a reference to the 1992 FBI standoff in Idaho.

Jamison is being held without bail, and is facing these charges:

• Aggravated arson, a second-degree felony
• Purchase, transfer, use or possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony
• Aggravated cruelty to an animal, a class B misdemeanor