Ky. Police Bodycam Captures Explosive Device Going Off in Hotel Room

Kentucky police released body camera footage that captured the moment an explosive device detonated in a hotel room, igniting a fire.

The incident happened June 21 when Lyndon police responded to call about a guest not checking out of a room at the SpringHill Suites hotel, WLKY reports. Officers and a hotel employee went to the room of the guest—identified as Leonard Pitchford—and asked for the man to come out.

A hotel employer eventually pushed opened a door, and an explosion is heard from inside the room. In the body camera footage, the employee immediately jumps back from the door, and the officers draw their guns.

Police ordered Pitchford to come out and surrender, and he is heard screaming before finally exiting the room. Officers subdue him on the floor, and they saw a fire had started in the room.

A hotel employee grabbed a fire extinguisher for another officer to put out the flames.

"Officer Yeng Xiong took the fire extinguisher, entered the room heroically, and put the fire out," said Chief Robert Schroder. "I can't speak enough about the bravery of Officer Xiong going in there because, as the investigation turned out, there were additional devices in there."

Once the fire was out, the department's bomb squad searched the room and discovered two suspected explosive devices. No one was injured in the incident.

Pitchford faces 43 counts of of first-degree wanton endangerment and other charges. His is being held on $200,000 bond, and his next court appearance is Monday.