UPDATED: Bomb Left In Backpack At Branson Landing; Suspect Facing Drug Charges:

Don M. Owens

A man who is being held on two drug warrants out of Florida is suspected of leaving a bomb in a backpack at Branson Landing early this morning (02-18-10.)

A security guard found Owens, 35, of Polk County, Fla., attempting to break into an ATM near Towne Square around midnight. When the guard approached the man bolted, leaving the backpack. Owens, who was accompanied by a woman from Missouri, fled into the Hilton Promenade hotel where the couple were staying.

Owens was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth) in Taney County late Thursday afternoon afternoon. Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell has also charged Owens as a prior and persistent drug offender.

The guard positively identified Owens from surveillance camera footage from inside the hotel.

A night auditor at the hotel told authorities she recognized the couple and pointed to the woman who was on a computer in the hotel lobby.

While the man and woman were being questioned, they told investigators that there was another explosive device in their car parked in a parking garage adjacent to Branson Landing.

Branson police officers removed the car from a nearby parking garage and have uncovered evidence that is "pertinent to the case" and could result in additional charges being filed.

The woman arrested with Owens has not yet been identified.

Jerry Adams, spokesman for the City of Branson, has confirmed that one explosive device was detonated by the bomb squad with the Springfield Fire Department early this morning in the parking lot of Bass Pro Shops on the south end of the Landing.

Springfield Fire Marshal Kevin Binam told The Ozarks Sentinel that the first device was made with cardboard tubes and that it had a fuse. Adams said that the "device" that was found in the car actually turned out to be firecrackers.

The car has been moved to an impound area as evidence and charges will be determined by the Taney County Prosecutor," Adams said. "The garage and Branson Landing Boulevard are open again and the Landing is open for business as usual."

A motive for the alleged attempted bombing has not been released yet and as of late this afternoon neither Owens or the unidentified woman have been charged with any crime related to the attempted bombing.

About ten hours after the incident started unfolding Branson Landing was open for business and the public was in no danger. "All of the people who work there have been allowed to go to work," Adams said.

Hilton Promenade Hotel at Branson Landing

Some guests staying at the hotel were moved for safety reasons because of the bomb scare.

The probable cause statement related to the drug charges filed against Owens in Taney County state that investigators found methamphetamine in a styrofoam cup next to the coffee maker in room N321 that the couple was sharing at the Hilton Promenade Hotel. Cops received consent to search the room from managers of the establishment.

Merrell is charging Owens as a prior and persistent offender because of two previous drug convictions out of the state of Florida. On March 25, 1999 he was convicted of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription; and on July 22, 1999, Owens pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent manufacture, sell or deliver.

Owens' girlfriend has been released from jail and will not face charges connected to the bomb scare according to Branson police chief Carroll McCollough.

Reports related to the alleged bombing "could be handed over to the prosecutors office by the beginning of next week for the determination of charges, according to Branson Police Chef Carroll McCollough. With the out of state warrants and our bond, he's not going anywhere."

Owens is being held without bond on the out-of-state warrants. Judge Tony Williams set Owens' bail at $100,000 on the Taney County charges.