A Frederick County man was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he broke into a family member's home and threatened the relative with a machete. Police said he was carrying two improvised explosive devices in his backpack.
Dominic M. Valenti, 25, faces charges of home invasion, burglary, assault, reckless endangerment, and manufacture or possession of a destructive device.
The Brunswick Police Department officers were called to the 100 block of West C Street around 5:30 a.m. after a report of a home invasion. Police said Valenti forced himself inside the home and put a machete to the throat of one of the residents. He also mimed stabbing the same victim with a steak knife without actually stabbing the person. When officers arrived, they determined that Valenti's backpack had explosive devices inside of it.
Bomb technicians with the Office of the State Fire Marshall rendered the devices safe at the scene. Valenti was at first taken to a hospital and then was transferred to the Frederick County Detention Center. He is being held there without bond.
"The quick recognition of the potential hazard with these devices by Brunswick Police and their decision to immediately contact us was absolutely appropriate in this incident," stated State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci. "This serves as a positive reminder to all members of the public of the national message, 'See Something, Say Something.'"