Gibsonton Man Arrested After Report He Planned To Burn Down Hospital

GIBSONTON, FL — Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are investigating a man accused of threatening to burn down St. Joseph's Hospital-South in Riverview for revenge.

On Monday, Nov. 21, at 11:41 p.m., deputies received a report from a relative that Glenn Schaeffer, 56, of Gibsonton had left his home dressed in camo, and was possibly armed with a pipe bomb or Molotov cocktails.

Patrol units were able to find and stop Schaeffer in his vehicle near U.S. 41 South and Pennsylvania Avenue but deputies said he refused to get out of his vehicle, and fled the scene.

Deputies later caught up with Schaeffer at his home in the 11000 block of Southern Creek Drive in Gibsonton where he was taken into custody without incident.

During a search of his vehicle, deputies said they discovered two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and bottles with an unknown liquid.

The sheriff's bomb squad responded to the scene and, after investigating the unknown liquid and bottles, said the liquid was not combustible.

Detectives said Schaeffer admitted to them that he was upset and planning on igniting the liquid at St. Joseph's Hospital-South, 6901 Simmons Loop, Riverview.

He also said the guns were to use on hospital security guards and anyone else who posed a threat to him. He said he wanted to get the attention of the FBI, according to the sheriff's news release.

"Ensuring the safety of everyone in our community is a responsibility we all share," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "I commend the family member in this case for reporting the suspect's threatening behavior, and the swift actions of our deputies that thwarted the potential harm to others."

The FBI Tampa Division had an agent on the scene as well.

Schaeffer is facing a charge of felony fleeing to elude. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be pending.