A residential neighborhood in the Treasure Coast community of Fort Pierce became the center of a major bomb squad operation after local law enforcement uncovered a stash of military-style explosives.
The incident began when deputies from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a residence on Balsam Drive to serve a temporary risk protection order to Keith Anthony Morrone. During the encounter, Morrone consented to a search of both his home and his vehicle.
While searching the property, authorities discovered a green wooden case containing seven items closely resembling military-grade hand grenades. Upon further inspection, investigators determined that five of the devices were consistent with flashbangs. Recognizing the immediate threat to the surrounding community, deputies quickly evacuated the premises—including Morrone himself—and deployed a specialized bomb team to safely manage the volatile situation.
According to the arrest affidavit, Morrone admitted to modifying the grenades. When investigators asked him if the devices contained any active materials, he offered an uncertain response:
I don’t know, I don’t think there’s anything in there.
The bomb squad successfully removed the initial explosives from the property without incident. However, a secondary search of the home yielded an even more concerning discovery: a homemade explosive device. Deputies located a small glass container filled with black powder that was actively connected to a one-foot cannon fuse.
Following the safe removal of all hazardous materials, Morrone was taken into custody and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail. Based on the evidence collected at the Balsam Drive scene, he is currently facing severe felony charges, including:
This incident highlights the critical role of risk protection orders in identifying and neutralizing severe threats, keeping our local Treasure Coast neighborhoods safe from potentially catastrophic harm.
