Sugarcreek Borough police confirmed Wednesday that a loud explosion heard in the area Tuesday was caused by a homemade bomb.
Two explosive devices, which Sugarcreek police chief Bob Wenner described as bombs, were removed from the apartment of Kassidy Clark, 25, and Sean Roxberry, 23, on Crestview Drive at about 10 p.m. Tuesday.
“They were devices manufactured for causing a large explosion and had no commercial use,” Wenner said.
The release said no one was injured, but the explosion left a “considerable” crater in its wake.
When asked if he believed the bombs were created with ill intent, Wenner said “nobody makes an explosive device without the intent of blowing it up.”
Wenner said the fact the bombs were kept in the couple’s apartment feet away from Clark’s 1-year-old child in a building full of residents shows ill intent in itself.
“Show me the good reason (for having explosive devices),” he said.
Another explosive device had been found Dec. 6 in an Arbor Circle apartment in Franklin occupied by Tyler Howard, 22.
In that case, Franklin police discovered a 7 to 8 inch bomb created inside a cardboard tube similar to a paper towel roll, chief Kevin Anundson said.
Anundson said “it wouldn’t surprise” him if the bombs are somehow related.
“Normally you don’t just find one of these things,” Anundson said.
Wenner said his department hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a connection between the two cases.
“We’re exploring any possible connection,” he said.
Anundson said that at this point in his investigation he doesn’t believe the bomb at Arbor Circle was created by Howard or manufactured for nefarious reasons.
“It seems to me right now it’s just something they’re looking to make a big boom,” he said, noting the Arbor Circle bomb was encased in cardboard and therefore wouldn’t produce a lot of shrapnel.
A big boom isn’t the only thing these explosives are capable of, though.
“One of the bomb squad members said (the Franklin bomb) is the type that will blow arms and legs off, not just fingers,” Anundson said.
Squad members also told Anundson the bomb looked to be the equivalent of “a bit more than a stick of dynamite” and said it appeared to be deteriorating.
Anundson said squad members wouldn’t know what the bomb was made of until it could be “opened up” and investigated.
“It’s always concerning when this type of thing is discovered. Even one professionally handled went off,” White said.
White said he wouldn’t call the incidents an “epidemic yet” but said he would be alerting law enforcement in the county to make them aware of the situation.
“We’ll be on high alert,” he said.
White advised individuals that have contact with these devices not to try and detonate the explosives themselves.
“Like I said, even one that was professionally handled went off,” said White. “I think people need to understand these are not laughing matters.”
Sugarcreek police also seized a bottle of liquid morphine, a baggie with cocaine residue, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia after Tuesday’s incident.
Clark and Roxberry have both been charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of children-parent/guardian/other commits offense and risking catastrophe, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
Preliminary hearings for the couple have been scheduled Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
They remain lodged in the Venango County jail on $25,000 bail.
Howard is facing charges in the Arbor Circle case.
