Grenades and bomb making materials discovered in Cape Coral home, leads to arrest

Military-style hand grenades, homemade bomb-making materials, chemicals, guns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found inside a Cape Coral home Friday after an eviction led to an hours-long law enforcement investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.An affidavit said investigators also found thousands of rounds of ammo, guns, and seven marijuana plants on the property.Jonathan Butler, a neighbor, said, “He’s always had weird religious signs in his front yard all the time, almost cult-like.”Early Friday morning, a bomb squad, narcotics unit, along with a dozen undercover Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Port Authority, arrived at Southeast 11th Street and Southeast 13th Place. Lee County deputies were at a home to arrest 60-year-old Thomas Burchetta on a warrant for two counts of threats on a public servant.An affidavit said earlier in the week, Burchetta was accused of threatening to use deadly force on Lee County deputies who told him he was evicted and had to move out. The company representing the new homeowner told Gulf Coast News that Burchetta refused to vacate and claimed to have explosives. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Burchetta on charges of threats on a public servant, making/or having explosives, weapon/ammo possession for violating a DV court injunction, making a controlled substance, and resisting with violence. An affidavit said Burchetta is accused of fighting with deputies and trying to choke a deputy when they arrested him. Court documents revealed that Burchetta was accused of not paying property taxes, leading to the home’s sale at auction in September for $162,000. Despite the sale, Burchetta never moved out, forcing the new homeowner to pursue legal action. Neighbors noted that Burchetta had lived there for years and owned a company called Crazy Health Church.Burchetta is currently held in the Lee County Jail. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate. Burchetta is not allowed to own firearms because he has an active injunction issued by a former spouse. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.