Two arrests made after explosives are discovered

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July 10, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Fri Jul 10, 2009, 07:40 PM EDT

Somerset — Two arrests have been made following the discovery of explosive devices in a Ferguson residence Thursday afternoon.

Robert W. Ware, 31, and Ember M. Collins, 20, have each been charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, a first offense, and two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense.

Ware and Collins were found by Somerset Police in their 716 Jacksboro Street residence smoking what appeared to be marijuana after a 911 hang-up call was made from the home around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Police reported a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside, and two Darvocet pills, one container of Butorphanol Tartrate, two marijuana smoking pipes, a grinder, a pack of rolling papers, a water bong and a syringe were all located inside. Additionally, Ware was found with 17.5 Suboxone pills in his pocket.

Illegal drugs weren’t the only discovery police made, however. They also found an item resembling a pipe bomb, a generally primitive but effective device designed to amplify the destructive capabilities of relatively weak explosives.

The Kentucky State Police Hazardous Devices Unit and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) investigators from London were called to the scene to investigate. They found black powder blasting caps, used to detonate explosives. The black powder was found on the open floor where children could reach and was advised by ATF to be an extreme hazard. Also discovered on the floor were knives, syringes, and blasting caps.

The Department of Social Services was contacted and removed four children from the home, deemed “very messy and nasty” on the police report, and too hazardous for anyone to live inside.

In addition to the above-listed charges by the State of Kentucky, federal charges may be pending according to Det. Michael Grigsby of SPD, but those have not yet been announced.

The London ATF office could not be reached for comment.

SPD Det. Shannon Smith said that the explosives “could have easily caused serious physical injury and death,” and that “there is only one reason somebody would have a destructive device, and that is to destroy things.”

Grigsby said that a number of other houses in the area — at least 10 — had to be evacuated because of the threat of an explosion, and the street was blocked off after ATF arrived. Most individuals were kept out of their homes for up to five hours.

In an unexpected coincidence, a relative of Ware, 19-year-old Joshua Ware, was involved in an automobile accident the very same day on South U.S. 27 near Sloan’s Valley Road. Joshua Ware had to be extricated from his vehicle and is in serious condition at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Police said there is no condition between the two incidents.

Robert Ware and Collins were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

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