Nov 16, 2009 5:12 pm US/Eastern
Montgomery Co. Man Facing Charges After Explosion
NEW HANOVER (CBS 3) ―
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The Bomb Squad was called to a New Hanover home after reports of an explosion on November 13.
CBS
Montgomery County man is facing charges of risking a catastrophe, weapons of mass destruction and recklessly endangering following an explosive ordeal in his New Hanover Township home.
According to authorities, 36-year-old Robert Heintz Jr. first told his wife and police, he was cleaning a bullet when it exploded Friday afternoon. But police quickly figured out he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Investigators at the scene went to the residence and found a great deal of explosive materials that could have detonated and injured many, many people," Montgomery County District Attorney, Risa Vetri Ferman told CBS3.
The Montgomery County Bomb Squad responded, immediately evacuated the area and detonated the explosive materials found inside the Deep Creek Road home.
An eyewitness on the scene told CBS3, "We started hearing a sequence of explosives over the next four or five hours."
"The actual threat in terms of the devices that were there have been eliminated and he is now in custody," Ferman explained.
Sources told CBS3 Heintz is a former marine who later joined the Army and was eventually discharged. According to court documents, Heintz told police he had mixed explosive materials in the past and he was once again working with the materials when they exploded. Heintz claims he purchased the materials on the internet.
"We know he was crafting, experimenting with some explosive devices. I really can't comment on what his motive would be, I don't think we know that fully yet," Furman said.
FBI officials confirmed have joined the investigation Monday. It is possible federal charges are filed in this case pending the outcome of their investigation. Heintz is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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