FMPD arrests FM man for building small explosives

FORT MADISON – A Fort Madison man has been arrested for trying to dupe the Fort Madison police department into thinking someone was throwing explosives into his yard on Halloween.
However after investigation and the discovery of video evidence, police determined that the man himself was setting off the minor explosive devices.
John M. Overland, 55, of Fort Madison lives in the 1200 block of Avenue E, and was arrested by Fort Madison Police Friday after an investigation into a call he allegedly initiated with police after setting off small explosives in his yard and trying to blame squatters in a vacant home next door, according to an arrest affidavit obtained from the Lee County Attorney’s office.
According to that report, Overland called police on multiple occasions to report loud bangs going off near in his yard. Police responded to the calls at 10:27 p.m., and 11:52 p.m. on Oct. 31, and again on 6:15 a.m. on Nov. 1. Then at 7:43 p.m. on Nov. 1 a neighbor in the same block reported another explosion in the area. When police arrived, another neighbor came out and was able to produce a security camera video showing a male coming out of his home at Overland’s address.

The footage shows the male lighting an object on fire and throwing it into the yard and then relighting it in the yard. Materials consistent with the burning objects were found by police.
The report indicated the objects were homemade with CO2 cartridges and shotgun shells that had been taped and wired together.
Police investigations revealed that Overland was Mirandized and then told officers how he built the explosives and wanted to get the police’s attention regarding the issues going on at the vacant house to the east of the home where he and his elderly mother live.
Fort Madison Fire Department was also called to assist at the scene.