SPRING HILL, Fla. – A Spring Hill man is in custody following a multi-agency investigation into a series of incidents involving property damage and a suspicious package containing an unknown powder, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies initially responded to a home on Landover Boulevard in Spring Hill on July 6, 2026, regarding a criminal mischief complaint. The homeowner told authorities that surveillance cameras captured an unidentified individual outside the residence during the early morning hours.
According to sheriff’s office reports, the individual spray-painted multiple exterior cameras, knocked them down, and attempted to damage a front window before fleeing. Investigators reviewed the footage, which showed a male suspect wearing a face covering and clothing designed to conceal his identity.
Four days later, on July 10, 2026, deputies returned to the same Landover Boulevard residence after the homeowner discovered a suspicious package in the driveway. First responders located a manila envelope secured to the ground with what appeared to be a tent stake.
Because the envelope contained an unidentified white powder, authorities treated the scene as a hazardous materials incident. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Detectives, Hernando County Fire Rescue’s Hazmat Team, and the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Team responded to secure and investigate the area. Officials reported that no injuries occurred during the response.
During the investigation, the victim told detectives he suspected Merle Hardie, a driver with whom he had been involved in a traffic crash in 2024, was responsible for the ongoing harassment and property damage.
Detectives later identified Hardie, 83, as the suspect behind both the July 6 and July 10 incidents.
Hardie was arrested and booked into the Hernando County Detention Center. He faces charges of aggravated stalking, burglary of a dwelling, possession of burglary tools, and delivery of a hoax weapon of mass destruction. His bond has been set at $10,000.
The sheriff’s office stated that the investigation remains active. While preliminary field tests on the recovered white powder indicated it was baking soda, the substance has been sent to a laboratory for official analysis to verify the results.
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