Deputies document investigation into incident
A Gilmer County Fire Rescue firefighter battalion chief and six others allegedly ended their week with a bang by shooting off 5 pounds of Tannerite, an explosive designed to detonate when hit by a rifle bullet. It’s used as a hit indicator for long-range shooting.
The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office posted a humorous summary of the incident in its Friday Wrap-Up: “10/10 chaos. Zero stars for honesty. Big boom energy.”
At about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, multiple people called 911 to report an explosion on Rock Creek Road, according to a sheriff’s incident report. The explosion was large enough to shake houses and rattle windows. One family feared that their propane tank had exploded.
A fire rescue unit responded and investigated. They were contacted by Battalion Chief C.J. Morris, 35, who told them everything was all right and it was just a bonfire, according to the incident report. Morris was off duty at the time of the incident.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jessie Parks said that when called, Morris said there was no explosion. In addition, Morris said it was his cousin’s birthday, and they had been firing guns and having a bonfire to celebrate.
In the incident report, Parks said Morris sounded inebriated.
Along with four other deputies, Parks went to the address where the explosion was reported. On the scene, the deputies found Kyle Trentham, 27; Christopher Green, 24; and Billy Quinn, 25.
Initially, Trentham said he didn’t know what officers were talking about with an explosion. He later said the explosion was because they shot 5 pounds of Tannerite, according to the incident report. Trentham added that Morris was present at the time of the explosion.
According to the report, Elbert Oliver, 26, said Morris had given the group permission to use the Tannerite.
Caleb McTaggart, 22, and Sarah Sosebee were also present on the scene, the incident report said. Before she was found on the scene, Sosebee allegedly lied to deputies on the phone, claiming she was elsewhere.
The incident report said Morris wasn’t found at the scene. No arrests were made.
The Times-Courier contacted Gilmer County Fire Rescue officials for comment, but received no response by press time Tuesday.