A bomb-like device tossed at a Southside Jacksonville mental-health treatment center started a chaotic string of events with police early Tuesday.

It ended hours later when police had to shoot non-lethal foam balls at a man with a history of bizarre run-ins with the law after running at SWAT team officers with swords at an Atlantic Beach apartment complex, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Christopher Davidson Bell, 24, of Plaza Drive was arrested on one count of throwing a destructive device after a suspicious item was tossed at the River Point Behavior Health facility at 6300 Beach Blvd. just after midnight, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Three more charges of aggravated assault were filed against him after a sword-wielding confrontation at the Sea Oats Apartments at 900 Plaza Drive.

Court files show that Bell has been arrested twice since December. Both were dismissed after a judge ordered him taken to a mental-health facility for an involuntary examination.

"He has a history of arrests with us for misdemeanor drug charges and some driving charges," Sheriff's Office Chief Tom Hackney said during a Tuesday news conference. "And Atlantic Beach tells us that in some of the encounters they have had with him, he's also been armed with those weapons before."

Officers were called about 12:30 a.m. to River Point, where the bomb squad found and disarmed a "suspicious item" at the front door, police said. Hospital staff and patients were not evacuated, but Beach Boulevard was shut down for hours pre-dawn.

The 93-bed treatment facility specializes in behavioral health and substance abuse, according to the center's website.

Employees told police they saw a red Mazda RX-8 drive up to the front door, then the sunroof opened and something was tossed out. A man got out and went to the door, leaving a rambling "diatribe of some issues that he had" with the facility about past treatment there, Hackney said.

"He messes with the box on their front porch, messes with it a little bit, reacts like something is about to happen," Hackney said. "When nothing happens, he gets in his car and leaves."

Hackney confirmed that a "pressurized chemical device" in the package wasn't assembled correctly but could have detonated otherwise.

Police used the "diatribe" left there and other information from Atlantic Beach police to track his car to the Sea Oats complex, identifying the driver as Bell, Hackney said. About 8:30 a.m. an arrest warrant was obtained and a SWAT team went to the complex as three buildings were evacuated.

That's when the suspect came at them with swords, saying the SWAT officers would "have to take his life" before going back into an apartment, then returning with more weapons before retreating again, Hackney said.

Bell came out a third time with another sword.

"He took a Bruce Lee-like fighting stance in front of the SWAT vehicle," Hackney said. "He then began to advance at those detectives."

Six-year veteran Officer Matt Turner fired an AR-15 at him, but missed. Another SWAT team member fired two foam balls at the man, who gave up and was handcuffed, Hackney said.

The bomb squad was checking Bell's apartment for any other items similar to what was found at the hospital, the chief said.

As to Bell's past run-ins with police, Atlantic Beach officers said they were called to the beach at the foot of Seventh Street on Dec. 28 to find Bell dancing there, "wrapped with duct tape acting bizarre," according to the arrest report.

Bell told the officer he had eaten an unknown amount of mushrooms, then gave permission to search his car, the report said. Police found marijuana scattered across his car prompting a charge of possession of marijuana.

Atlantic Beach police also pulled Bell over Jan 10 in his RX-8 behind the police station on Seminole Road, according to that arrest report. Bell had a large knife in a scabbard on his lap and two more knives and a sword in the trunk, according to the arrest report.

Police found a large bag of marijuana in the car and charged him with possession of marijuana and drug parephernalia. Bell had to be put in restraints due to his "agitated and excited state," according to the report.

After paramedics examined him, he said he was "delusional, paranoid and is a schizophrenic" and needed to go back into a mental institution, the report said.

Bell remains behind bars on $100,000 bail, according to Duval County jail records.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549