Rexburg police find homemade device containing pressure cooker, wires and gasoline
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REXBURG — Police doing a welfare check on a Rexburg man on Saturday took him into custody after they found what appeared to be a crudely built explosive device.
Officers arrived at the home near 300 West 5th South around 8:30 a.m. to check on an intoxicated man who reportedly made suicidal comments to a neighbor, according to a Rexburg Police Department news release.
Police reports show an officer could smell the odor of gas coming inside when speaking with the man. Police then found a “fully constructed crude incendiary device” made with 7-quart jars containing gasoline inside a pressure cooker. The jars were connected with electrical wires to a timer.
The Idaho Falls Regional Bomb Squad was called in to help police. Investigators rendered the scene safe, and officers took the man into custody.
The man was taken to Madison Memorial Hospital for evaluations.
EastIdahoNews.com is not naming him as formal charges have not been filed. Police said they are seeking a felony charge of unlawful possession of a destructive device.