Man accused of using household products to make hoax weapon of mass destruction

A toxic mix of household cleaners and cough syrup lead to a man’s arrest on possession of a hoax weapon of mass destruction, the evacuation of an apartment complex building and deputies having to be decontaminated late on Sunday. Jamaal Anthony Young, 21, of the 13000 block of Corbel Circle, Fort Myers, remains in Lee County jail pending posting of $5,000 bond on the felony charge.

According to Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports: Young and his girlfriend, who was not identified, separated about three weeks ago and he had been “displaying strange behaviours.” On Saturday, he went to the girlfriend’s apartment in the 13000 block of Corbel Circle, mixed several cleaning products together and covered the countertops. She told him to stop and he went to his upstairs apartment.



She could smell a chemical odour which permeated from a vent. She went to check on him, and found he mixed bleach, ammonia, cough syrup, degreaser and other unknown substances. The concoction was placed in bathtubs, sinks and a glass container which had been heated in the microwave. It had shattered, but had contained the concoction along with metallic pieces and cigarette butts. He also put some of the chemicals on his body.

She called deputies to check on Young’s welfare. When Deputies Thomas Chappell and Donavan Kamauff arrived, they went to check on Young and “immediately ingested the chemicals causing them to become dizzy and interrupted their normal breathing.” The deputies found no one inside and called the fire department and poison control. The fire department determined the concoction formed chlorine gas.