Authorities arrest Fort Myers man after hoax bomb found downtown with political messaging
Months after authorities found a mannequin hanging from a tree with several political statements, first believed to be a bomb, they've announced an arrest in the case.
Fort Myers Police announced the arrest of Kent Olson Kelley, 69, of Fort Myers. He remains in custody Thursday afternoon on a $5,000 bond, charged with one count of obstructing justice and one count of resisting officers.
On Nov. 8, 2022, Fort Myers Police responded to Centennial Park, in downtown Fort Myers, in reference to an unknown object on display, portraying a political message.
Police found a diorama near Centennial Park they said took hours to stage: a mannequin hanging from a tree. The doll sported political statements on its arms, legs and trunk, and appeared to have an electrical device attached, resembling items commonly used in the manufacturing of explosive devices.
The Southwest Florida Regional Bomb Squad responded and learned that the device was a hoax bomb that was built to resemble an actual explosive device.
Through an unrelated Lee County Sheriff's Office investigation, authorities learned Kelley was responsible, police said.
On Thursday, Fort Myers Police detectives developed probable cause to arrest Kelley.
Kelley is next due in court Sept. 11 for his arraignment.
Expert hoped to interpret the symbols found on the mannequin
Carla Hill, director of investigative research at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, at the time said her organization wasn't aware of a potential meaning to the mannequin behind bars.
Hill previously walked The News-Press through the different items depicted:
The mannequin implies the New World Order is bad, comparing it to Nazi Germany.
It appears to be anti-New World Order.
QAnon imagery typically has the words "dark" and "light," but the doll only has the word "light" written on it.
On one leg, it has the acronym "D.U.M.B.S.," which stands for "Deep Underground Military Bases," a conspiracy theory that suggests the state holds children for sex trafficking.
It seems to compare the "deep state" to Nazi Germany, and appears to satirize the QAnon beliefs.
It appears to have the word "GOD" written on its stomach.
The doll is laying on a U.S. flag. Hill says she doesn't understand the patriotism attached to the exhibit.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: FMPD announce arrest in fake bomb threat involving mannequin
