Man arrested after asking for blasting caps, police say

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2002-10-28

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Man arrested after asking for blasting caps, police say By SARAH LEMON A Medford woman's neighbor came over early Friday morning, not to discuss the weather or neighborhood gossip - he wanted to know if she had any blasting caps, police said. The woman called police, who arrested the man after they found pipe bombs in his home. Medford police arrested Scott William Thomas, 29, 1352 Spring St., on Friday and charged him with two counts of possession of a destructive device, two counts of manufacture of a destructive device and possession of methamphetamine. These charges stem from police discovery of pipe bombs and items used for their manufacture in Thomas' home, said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. Medford police and a SWAT team arrived at the scene around 6 a.m., closing off Spring Street while they tried to get Thomas to come out of his house, said Moran. At first, Thomas wouldn't answer the door for police, but a detective persuaded him to come out, and Thomas was arrested. Members of a police bomb squad deemed two of the devices they found in Thomas' home as dangerous. Senior trooper Blain Allen of the Oregon State Police and Detective Eric Fox of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department defused the small bombs. Residents of Spring and Flower streets were evacuated while the bomb experts were at work and returned after the devices were declared safe around 11:30 a.m. Thomas shares his Spring Street home with his wife and two children, but was alone at the time of the arrest, said Moran. He was lodged in Jackson County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected]   Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.