Columbus man arrested for North Vernon bomb threat, drug charges

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - After an investigation, the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) released more information on Tuesday, September 1, following the bomb threat on Monday afternoon, August 31, near the intersection of State Road 7 and US 50.

At 2 p.m. on Monday, NVPD officers executed a traffic stop and spoke with a male suspected of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license. During the encounter, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Police asked the man, David Axsom, 66, of Columbus, to exit the vehicle while they conducted a probable cause search of the car. The initial search reportedly revealed marijuana, and the suspect was placed under arrest. During the subsequent investigation, NVPD also allegedly discovered methamphetamine.

A further search of the vehicle revealed a homemade explosive device. As a precaution, officers immediately secured the area and closed nearby roadways.

The Columbus Police Department (CPD) Bomb Squad and Indiana State Police responded. Bomb squad personnel safely disposed of the device and eventually declared the area safe.

Axsom was arrested and booked into the Jennings County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

• Possession of a Destructive Device (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of Meth (Level 6 Felony)
• Trafficking into a Penal Facility (Level 5 Felony)
• Prohibited Possession of a Handgun (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Marijuana (Class A Misdemeanor)

Officers applied for and were granted a search warrant for Axsom’s residence in Columbus. NVPD, in partnership with CPD, executed the warrant and supposedly located materials used in the manufacture of explosives, along with meth, marijuana, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.

The search warrant resulted in three additional arrests. Vicki Axsom (62), Henry Dunn (63), and Linda Compton (63) were all taken into custody at Axsom's residence on various drug and nuisance charges during the follow-up investigation.

All charges are preliminary, and suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.