Father Calls Police After Finding Bomb Ingredients in Son’s Room

A Canyon Country father turned in his 17-year-old son to authorities after finding ingredients and instructions for making explosives carefully stored in the teenager’s bedroom, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said Monday.

The father also found vials of substances labeled “cocaine,” “downers” and “PCP,” which will be tested, and tools such as a pick and a slim jim device, which unlock car doors, Lt. Jeff Springs said.

The youth was arrested Sunday morning on suspicion of possession of controlled substances, possession of burglary tools and intent to manufacture explosive devices. He was released to his father’s custody after being booked at the sheriff’s Santa Clarita Valley station.

Because he is a juvenile, neither his name nor his father’s name was released.

Springs said there was no evidence linking the son to any other criminal activity involving the explosives, tools or drugs. The father made the discovery about 10:45 a.m. by accident.

“The boy’s father noticed a light left on in the son’s bedroom and went in to turn off the light when he noticed the articles we confiscated,” Springs said.

The man decided to call sheriff’s deputies because he believed the materials could be dangerous to his other children, Springs said.

“He has younger kids and he was worried about them getting into the items,” Springs said. “That’s why he called us. He wanted to make sure he got the items out of the house.”

Among the items found in the suspect’s room was a cardboard box containing household cleaning materials and chemicals and parts for pipe bombs, as well as a detailed computer printout of instructions for manufacturing explosive devices, Springs said. With the instructions, the household chemicals could be used to make explosives, he said.

“It seemed to go hand in hand with the printed instructions,” Springs added.

He said it wasn’t known where the youth got the instructions but an investigation is continuing.

The case was turned over to the sheriff’s arson and explosives unit and juvenile detectives to determine what charges against the teen-ager will be recommended to prosecutors, deputies said.