Investigators: Iredell Co. man booby trapped home in case of arrest

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators said a man in Iredell County booby trapped his home in case anyone came there to arrest him.

Eyewitness News broke down why officers came to his home in the first place on Monday.

Deputies were originally called to the home on a domestic violence call. They said Leland Gifford threatened to kill his entire family.

Deputies arrived at the home on Stine Road in Harmony where they said they found booby traps hidden in the woods around the house.

They said there were fish hooks attached to fishing lines meant to trap anyone trying to get to the house.

Investigators said the hooks were meant to catch the attacker in the eye.

They said they have heard of traps like that, but have not seen them before.

On top of the fishing hook booby traps found in the home, a search warranted showed deputies' meth inside the home.

They also discovered Gifford was building a 25-foot deep bunker on his property.

Officers arrested Gifford on possession of meth and a gun possession by a felon.

Investigators are still putting together a list of full charges.

Neighbors said they were too scared of Gifford to go on camera Monday.