Pair In Possession of Explosive Device Arrested
BAKERSFIELD — The Kern County Sheriff’s bomb squad was busy on Monday night, responding to two different incidents involving explosive devices that ended in the arrest of two men.
2000 block of Padre Street
The first incident occurred at around 5 p.m. on Aug. 12, when Kern County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a suspicious substance/device call in the 9000 block of Water Street in east Bakersfield.
According to deputies, they located several bottles inside a vacant residence that contained a mixture of chemical liquids possibly used to manufacture homemade explosives.
The bomb squad arrived and secured the device.
Later that evening, narcotics detectives with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Kern Narcotics Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of Padre Street in southeast Bakersfield.
During their search and ensuing investigation, detectives said they located suspected methamphetamine, evidence of narcotic sales, a loaded firearm, ammunition and an improvised explosive device.
The bomb squad was again called in to secure the device and a sheriff’s spokesman said several homes in the surrounding area were evacuated as a precaution.
“The bomb squad responded to the scene and rendered the containers safe,” the spokesperson said. “There were no injuries reported.”
Arrested at the scene of the second incident were 22-year-old Eric Oliva on charges of narcotics violations, weapons violations and possession of a destructive device, and 41-year-old Alexander Devora for being in possession of ammunition.
Both men were booked into a Kern County Jail.
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KERO-TV: KCSO bomb squad is handling two incidents
KGET-TV: Sheriff’s bomb squad handles two incidents
