Hollister PD officer suffers chemical exposure after investigating explosion
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HOLLISTER — On August 8th, police received word of someone setting off explosive devices on the 1400 block of El Cerro Drive.
The investigating officer arrived and spoke with a 15-year-old juvenile, whom neighbors alleged was the person police were looking for.
The juvenile admitted as much, telling the officer he’d set off a chemical bomb in the middle of the court after learning how to make them through friends and watching online videos.
He also told the officer where the remains of the device were located — in a garbage container at a neighboring house.
The officer found said remains and was “overcome with chemical vapors emanating from the exploded device” and began to suffer symptoms of chemical exposure, which gradually became more severe.
He was transported to Hazel Hawkins Hospital for treatment and decontamination, and was able to return to work two days later.
The Hollister Fire Department was called in to handle the device, with San Benito Environmental Health following shortly thereafter to ensure there was “no further danger to neighbors.”
The juvenile was cited and released to his parents.
No other injuries in relation to the incident have been reported.
