West TX May 11 2013 Federal authorities have filed a criminal complaint charging a paramedic in West, the town rocked by a fertilizer explosion last month that killed 14 people, with unlawful possession of a “destructive device,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon.
“At this time authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has anyconnection to the West fertilizer plant explosion,” the statement said.
The paramedic, 31-year old Bryce Reed, was arrested in West yesterday and appeared in federal court this morning in Waco, where he remains in custody, officials said, pending a detention hearing May 15. If convicted, Reed faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
According to the federal complaint, McLennan County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the nearby town of Abbott yesterday, where they found “an assortment of bomb making components” that the resident had “unwittingly” been given by Reed on April 26, nine days after the explosion.
The affidavit filed with the complaint said the components included a galvanized metal pipe, hobby fuse, lighter and several pounds of chemical powders — ingredients for a pipe bomb.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the McLennan County sheriff announced Friday that they would open a criminal investigation into the plant explosion.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has led an investigation into the explosion since shortly after the incident, on April 17.
Asked Friday morning if the investigation had turned up evidence that the fire was not accidental, Franceska Perot, a spokeswoman at the ATF, said no.
As of Tuesday, the investigation into the origin and cause of the West Fertilizer Plant fire and explosion is ongoing, according to officials with the ATF and the state fire marshal’s office. Investigators eliminated the following causes for the origin of the fire: lightning, anhydrous ammonium, a railcar containing ammonium nitrate, and a fire within the ammonium nitrate bin. Additionally, investigators concluded water used during fire fighting activities did not contribute to the cause of the explosion.
Investigators say the origin of the fire was in the fertilizer and seed building, but they continue to work on pinpointing an exact location of origin.
To date, investigators have developed at least 237 leads, from which 411 interviews have been conducted. Approximately 29 state and federal agencies have assisted on the scene.
At a hearing at the Capitol on May 1, Kelly Kistner, the assistant state fire marshal, said investigators had not shut out the possibility of terrorism or criminal activity.
“A criminal act has not been eliminated,” he said.
“At this time authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has anyconnection to the West fertilizer plant explosion,” the statement said.
The paramedic, 31-year old Bryce Reed, was arrested in West yesterday and appeared in federal court this morning in Waco, where he remains in custody, officials said, pending a detention hearing May 15. If convicted, Reed faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
According to the federal complaint, McLennan County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the nearby town of Abbott yesterday, where they found “an assortment of bomb making components” that the resident had “unwittingly” been given by Reed on April 26, nine days after the explosion.
The affidavit filed with the complaint said the components included a galvanized metal pipe, hobby fuse, lighter and several pounds of chemical powders — ingredients for a pipe bomb.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the McLennan County sheriff announced Friday that they would open a criminal investigation into the plant explosion.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has led an investigation into the explosion since shortly after the incident, on April 17.
Asked Friday morning if the investigation had turned up evidence that the fire was not accidental, Franceska Perot, a spokeswoman at the ATF, said no.
As of Tuesday, the investigation into the origin and cause of the West Fertilizer Plant fire and explosion is ongoing, according to officials with the ATF and the state fire marshal’s office. Investigators eliminated the following causes for the origin of the fire: lightning, anhydrous ammonium, a railcar containing ammonium nitrate, and a fire within the ammonium nitrate bin. Additionally, investigators concluded water used during fire fighting activities did not contribute to the cause of the explosion.
Investigators say the origin of the fire was in the fertilizer and seed building, but they continue to work on pinpointing an exact location of origin.
To date, investigators have developed at least 237 leads, from which 411 interviews have been conducted. Approximately 29 state and federal agencies have assisted on the scene.
At a hearing at the Capitol on May 1, Kelly Kistner, the assistant state fire marshal, said investigators had not shut out the possibility of terrorism or criminal activity.
“A criminal act has not been eliminated,” he said.