Monday's Internet Edition, February 08, 2010.

Abe Little is arrested outside his home on Lynch Ridge Road, Walton, Sunday after police found hand grenades and blasting caps when they responded to a call that alleged Little had reportedly shot three people. Also pictured are Roane Deputies Mike King (left) and Matthew “Bo” Williams. Photo by David Hedges

But that’s what happened Sunday in the sleepy area, located just off Ambler Ridge south of Walton.

Police arrested Curtis Abraham Little, 49, on two charges of unlawful possession of an explosive device after they allegedly found two hand grenades and blasting caps in his residence at 62 Lynch Ridge.

The arrest came after police received a disturbing call about allegations that turned out to be untrue.

Little’s ex-wife, Debra Hayes, who also lives in the home, said she was in Grantsville visiting her stepdaughter when Little called her.

“He told us he had killed three men and gotten rid of their bodies,” Hayes told reporters shortly after her ex-husband was hauled away by police Sunday evening.

That was after a long day that was nearly over when a State Police bomb squad detonated the explosive devices found in the home.

Hayes explained that Little had been drinking.

“He doesn’t do bad things,” she said. “He just got lost in a bottle and now he going to have to pay.”

Deputy Mike King of the Roane Sheriff’s Dept. said when police responded to a 911 call around 1:30 p.m. they were told a caller had reported three people had been shot.

The caller also said Little had declared he wasn’t going to jail and would shoot any police officers who responded.

Members of the Sheriff’s Dept., State Police and even Spencer City Police responded to the call.

When officers arrived, they found the 330-lb. Little standing at his front door. King said he did not appear to be armed, although officers found a handgun in his pocket.

There was no evidence of anyone having been shot, and neighbors reported that they had not heard any gunshots that day.

King said Little was making remarks about a religious war in which he expected to take part.

King said Little was taken into custody without incident, but when police made a sweep of his residence, they found a pineapple grenade and a homemade grenade in a back bedroom.

That was when they cleared the residence, notified the Walton Volunteer Fire Dept. and requested the bomb squad.

Lynch Ridge Road was closed from about 1:30 until 7:30 p.m., when the bomb squad finished its work.

King said one of the grenades was not in working condition. He said the bomb squad detonated the other grenade and two sets of blasting caps in a safe area.

The sound of the explosion could easily be heard as several neighbors gathered outside their homes to witness the excitement milled about and chatted with each other.

Some of them were upset that the neighbor they call “Abe” had been handcuffed outside his home for hours while police did their job.

“He’s never been in trouble,” 73-year-old Milton Rexroad, who has known Little for years, said.

“He was down here last night helping me fix my car,” Rexroad said.

Neighbors said Little works fulltime as a mechanic at a garage in the Kanawha Valley.

Little was lodged in the Central Regional Jail following his arrest. He was arraigned the next day by Roane Magistrate Jason Bennett, who set bond at $60,000.

He was being held in the regional jail in lieu of bond while awaiting a preliminary hearing.