Two Jailed In Explosive Device Detonated Outside Catoosa Church

Police in Catoosa arrested a man and woman after they said they found what appeared to be a pipe bomb in a truck outside a church.

Someone called police overnight about a suspicious vehicle at the Catoosa First Assembly of God at 200 West Elm Street. When police arrived around 2 a.m., they spoke to a man inside the truck and made contact with a woman nearby.

The man, Christopher Paul Swartwout, appeared to be abnormally nervous and lied to officers, according to an arrest report. The arresting officer said he noticed a "small smoking device" under Swartwout's seat when the 39-year-old man got out of the truck.

Catoosa Police placed him under arrest for possession of paraphernalia, and while searching the truck, police said they found the suspicious device in the center console.

Officials said the explosive was about 7-inches long and wrapped in black duct tape with a  twine fuse sticking out. The officer said in his report that it appeared to be made of PVC pipe material.

Swartwout told police he believed the explosive device was just a firework.

The Tulsa bomb squad was called in to detonate the device. No one was hurt.

Swartwout was booked into Rogers County Jail on complaints of possession of an explosive and possession of paraphernalia.

Officers also arrested Brittany Nicole Stinnett who they said was walking up and down Elm Street talking to herself. The 26-year-old woman was arrested on a drug complaint after police said they found methamphetamine in her purse.