VENTURA : Man Uninjured in Car Bomb Explosion
A Santa Paula man escaped injury when a makeshift bomb attached to his car battery exploded as he started his car at the Ventura armored-car company where he works, authorities said Tuesday.
Dale Marinus, a guard with Armored Transport of California for seven years, left his car at 7:45 a.m. Monday in the company’s unsecured lot in the 100 block of West Santa Clara Street, said Ventura Police Sgt. Larry Lotton.
When he returned at 4:30 p.m., Marinus told police he heard a small explosion in the engine compartment when he turned on the vehicle’s ignition, Lotton said.
No apparent damage was caused, but the force of the explosion blew off a decorative nameplate attached to the side of the car, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Convery of the bomb squad.
Convery described the bomb that was attached to the battery post as an improvised explosive device.
No motive for the explosion was known, Convery said.
“Somebody would have to be pretty sick if they meant it as a prank,” he said. “It’s not a prank. It’s a crime.”
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