DATE: August 9, 2019
LOCATION: 301 Ranch Drive, Walmart
CASE #: 19-221-142
SUSPECT: Kali Lynn Farrell, 25 years-old, Fremont resident
On August 9, 2019, at approximately 4:31 p.m., the on-duty manager at Walmart, located at 301 Ranch Drive, called 9-1-1 to report an odor of smoke inside the store. Milpitas Fire Department personnel responded and located a suspicious device. The device was wrapped in plastic with black electrical tape and it had an exposed orange detonation cord. Based on the suspicious device, Walmart management and the Police Department, in an abundance of caution, agreed to evacuate the store and have the device examined. The San Jose Police Department’s Bomb Squad and an Explosives Ordnance Detection Canine Team from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad were requested to assist with the investigation. At approximately 10:26 p.m., the San Jose Police Department’s Bomb Squad rendered the device and scene safe. Afterwards, the Milpitas Fire Department’s Chief Enforcement Officer determined the device was an incendiary device made with smoke balls and a wireless detonation system.
The Milpitas Police Department prioritized this investigation due to the fear and concern that it caused in our community. Officers reviewed surveillance footage, collected physical evidence, and conducted several interviews with customers and staff. The physical evidence was sent to the Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Identification Unit for analysis, where physical evidence at the scene was linked to Kali Lynn Farrell. On September 25, 2019, Milpitas Police Department Detectives located Farrell at her home in Fremont. After a thorough interview, Farrell was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for 451(b) PC – Arson and 453(a) PC – Possession of an incendiary device, and a prior $10,000 arrest warrant for a narcotics violation.
Although Farrell was arrested in September 2019, this information was not released to allow detectives to continue their investigation further and possibly identify additional suspects or other planned events. At the conclusion of this lengthy investigation, Detectives have determined there are no outstanding suspects and no further threats to the community. Based on our investigation, Detectives believed the incendiary device was placed inside the Walmart as a trial run for a distraction method for a future theft.
The cooperation of the citizens and Walmart staff during the initial investigation was instrumental in allowing the Milpitas Police Department to safely and efficiently investigate this incident, which helped identify the suspect. The Milpitas Police Department would like to thank Walmart, the San Jose Police Department, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Clara County Crime Laboratory for their assistance during this investigation.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Additionally, the information can be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department Website at: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip
Press Release By: Sergeant Steve Parodi #251
Date/Time: February 20, 2020; 8:00 AM
