Squad destroys explosives in park

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad Monday destroyed explosives found under shrubs on a hillside at O’Neill Regional Park.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said investigators were notified about 7:30 a.m. Monday that explosives were buried in the yard of a home on Via Taliana. He said investigators found empty holes there but no explosives.

A resident of the home, however, said he had dug up explosives and placed them at the nearby park, Amormino said. The explosives were recovered and detonated in a containment cylinder.

Amormino said two homes near Via Taliana and four more near the park were evacuated. He said detectives planned to search the Via Taliana residence where the bombs were reported to be.

An arrest was imminent, Amormino said.

-- Christopher Goffard