1st responder w/explosive arrested in West

[texanjoker]

Wow.... doesn't say if related to the disaster or not so only speculation, but very interesting since he was a he was a volunteer 1st responder... that would not be the first volunteer to start a fire but to blow it up if that was what happened?

McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A former emergency volunteer in West was arrested in McLennan County Friday morning on a charge of possessing a destructive device, but authorities would not say if it was related to the deadly April 17 explosion.


http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/dest ... de-in-west" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith B]

I read another article that stated they don't believe the plant explosion and this are related.

[texanjoker]

I am searching for articles on it myself. I guess the 10 am hearing will produce more info. I hope for everybody sake it is unrelated.

[Keith B]

Earlier this article stated they were not related. It was just updated to now state

At this point, agents have not connected the arrest to April 17 West Fertilizer Co. explosion that killed 15, including 12 first responders

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/former-e ... 12431.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[texanjoker]

That is good for the victims families. I wonder what made them look at this guy. Should be interesting.

[RX8er]

It has been upgrade to a criminal investigation so IMO, there is more to the story than they are saying.

[snorri]

It has been upgrade to a criminal investigation so IMO, there is more to the story than they are saying.

Having a destructive device (without the tax stamp or appropriate FFL) is a federal crime even if your intentions are recreational and nothing sinister. It also looks like a Texas crime (46.05) unless he fits through one of the loopholes.

[RX8er]

It has been upgrade to a criminal investigation so IMO, there is more to the story than they are saying.

Having a destructive device (without the tax stamp or appropriate FFL) is a federal crime even if your intentions are recreational and nothing sinister. It also looks like a Texas crime (46.05) unless he fits through one of the loopholes.

snorri, you are missing my point; the West Fertilizer fire has been upgraded. Of course this guys arrest is a criminal investigation. And BTW, it is not FFL, this would be covered under the FEL.

[snorri]

Type 10 FFL + FEL I think but anyway missed you were saying the plant explosion was now considered foul play.

[philip964]

The crime was locating all these schools, hospital and nursing homes around a potential bomb. The next crime was not having a prepared plan for dealing with the potential bomb catching on fire.

[RX8er]

Type 10 FFL + FEL

yep, and I missed the word "only".

[n5wd]

Apparently, he told a neighbor that he had the pipe bomb, and the neighbor dropped a dime on him to the S.O. Not too smart, on his part, if true.

[jmra]

Apparently, he told a neighbor that he had the pipe bomb, and the neighbor dropped a dime on him to the S.O. Not too smart, on his part, if true.

It's been a long time since you could drop a "dime" on somebody.

[Redneck_Buddha]

Apparently, he told a neighbor that he had the pipe bomb, and the neighbor dropped a dime on him to the S.O. Not too smart, on his part, if true.

It's been a long time since you could drop a "dime" on somebody.

Hell, it's been a long time since you could drop a quarter on someone.

[Keith B]

The crime was locating all these schools, hospital and nursing homes around a potential bomb. The next crime was not having a prepared plan for dealing with the potential bomb catching on fire.

This was not a manufacturing plant, only a fertilizer distributor. These type of places exist all over the country in rural farming areas, many of them right in the middle of small towns.

I'll go out on a limb and say the crime will be the failure of state inspections and enforcement of the company for the amounts on site and proper storage of the ammonium nitrate fertilizer. One of these type places I am very familiar with back in my home area takes extreme care on how and where they store any amounts of the product so that if it does become exposed to something it shouldn't the risk is greatly reduced of any other influences that would turn it into a bomb. I will bet 99% of them across the country do as well.