Bomb Squad Called In To Handle Burglary Suspect With Pipe Bomb

FREDERICKSON, WA — Three people have been arrested after a burglary in the Frederickson area that involved a pipe bomb and required the assistance of the bomb squad.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, at around 11:30 a.m. Monday a caller reported a burglary at a construction site off of 176th Street East. The caller told dispatchers that he had personally detained a suspect from the burglary, but that suspect had then told him he was armed with a pipe bomb. In addition, two other suspects involved in the burglary had already escaped on bikes.

When deputies arrived they say they checked the scene, determined that the suspect did in fact have an active pipe bomb on him, and called in the bomb squad. The suspect was then arrested, and the bomb squad shut the neighborhood down before investigating his bomb further, telling neighbors to keep away from windows in case of an explosion, and closing traffic through the area.

After checking the bomb with a drone and bomb disposal robot, however, the bomb squad determined that, because it was an active explosive and because it was covered in dangerous shrapnel, they would instead move it to a nearby quarry and detonate it there. By 4:30 p.m. the scene was cleared, though the investigation is ongoing.

As for the suspect with the bomb, he has been identified only as a 49-year-old man. He has been booked into the Pierce County Jail on charges of burglary and possession of an explosive. Shortly after his arrest deputies say they tracked down the two other suspects who earlier fled, a 29-year-old woman and 26-year-old man. They have both been booked in the jail for burglary.