Police Find Bomb, Drugs, Guns at Suspect’s Home

San Diego police said they found a live bomb, drugs and a cache of guns and stolen merchandise when they searched the East San Diego home of a burglary suspect Thursday afternoon.

Officers arrested Gary Lawrence on suspicion of narcotics, weapons and explosives charges after searching the house in the 3600 block of Nile Street, Sgt. Stephen Margetts said.

Margetts said the officers were called to the area shortly after 3 p.m. to question Lawrence as a burglary suspect.

When they found out that Lawrence had prior narcotics convictions, they searched his home under a waiver provision of his parole, he said.

The police officers found four handguns, a sawed-off shotgun and a large amount of methamphetamines valued at $3,000, Margetts said.

They also found $35,000 in cash and several stolen items, including a police portable radio transmitter and receiver, he said.

In addition, police found a live, handmade bomb in a safe with the cash.

Margetts said the San Diego Fire Department’s bomb squad determined that if the bomb had been rigged correctly, it would have blown up when the officers opened the safe.

Attempts to find out other information about Lawrence, including whether he had been released on bail, were unsuccessful late Thursday because of telephone problems at the County Jail downtown.