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Concern high over repeat explosives By AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police Department is dealing with some dangerous pranksters. In the last six weeks, four homemade explosive devices have been discovered, raising concern. The devices have caused no injuries, but police officials fear the worst. Phoenix Police Chief Robert Kershaw said there is little information to go on. "Up until today (Tuesday), we had no information," Kershaw said. "There were a couple of carpenters who heard it, turned around and looked and saw two young males in the area when it happened. I would like to think it's just some kids screwing around but this has the potential to be dangerous." Phoenix police responded to the report at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday near the 400 block of Oak Street. Remains of the explosive device were found on a lawn and officers promptly scoured the area for two young males - one wearing an orange shirt, the other a black shirt, based on descriptions provided by the witnesses. No suspects were located. According to Officer Mike Webber, the improvised explosive devices are made from discarded soda bottles that have been wrapped in tape. The caps have holes drilled into the top where a fuse is inserted. Police cannot confirm the substance inside the bottles but a faint smell of sulfur was detected. Police have recovered two of the devices and two others were reported by residents who discarded them. The devices began turning up shortly after July 4 and officials believe the suspects could be using leftover firecrackers as fuses. Kershaw said the suspects face a class "C" felony charge, which carries up to a 5-year term in a correctional facility, and a $10,000 fine. However, that charge could escalate to attempted murder if someone is injured or arson if the devices ignite a fire. Kershaw said there's also the potential for these individuals to harm themselves. "It could cause severe burns depending on where it hit," he said. Phoenix police are not the only ones dealing with explosives. On Monday, Talent police cited a male subject with possession of an explosive device. The subject was sitting in a parked car outside a church at 10:55 p.m. when police approached. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up an M1000 explosive device. The case will go before the Jackson County Circuit Court. No connections between the Talent and Phoenix case have been made. Phoenix police officials are urging citizens with any information to call 535-1113. "If they want to escalate it, they have the potential to do that quite easily," Kershaw said. "They could put some kind of projectile in it and if they have the capacity of doing this with a pop bottle, they could do it with a PVC pipe." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -