VENTURA : Pipe Bomb Explodes in Trash Barrel

Ventura police Thursday found the remains of a pipe bomb that apparently exploded in a residential neighborhood Wednesday night.

The explosion, which caused no damage, occurred between 10 and 10:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Imperial Avenue, said Sgt. Gary Adkinson.

Adkinson said the pipe bomb--made of a stainless steel pipe about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 inches long--exploded inside an empty 55-gallon trash barrel.

Pieces of the bomb were found scattered over a 200-foot area, Adkinson said. Police were called Thursday morning after a resident found the debris.

Although residents heard the explosion the previous night, no one called the authorities at the time, police said.

Russ Bishop, who reported the incident to police, said he didn’t hear anyone drive up or see anything until the next day. “I was surprised to find a little piece of metal in my driveway this morning,” he said.

Vincent Ruiz said he thought it was dynamite exploding, a sound he was familiar with from construction work.

Ruiz, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1977, said there have been no problems in the area. “This is a very quiet street. We don’t even have robberies around here,” he said.

Police were still investigating Thursday.