A 66-year-old South Austin man was arrested after a stockpile of homemade explosives was discovered and subsequently detonated by authorities in his own house, according to reports from local law enforcement. Steven Aldrich, having served two years of a six-year sentence for a previous explosives-related charge, found himself in legal trouble once again, mere weeks before the completion of his parole. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated, "These were homemade chemicals that he was making and manufacturing," in a statement obtained by CBS Austin.
The arrest and detonation came after a warning called in by Aldrich's sister about possible bomb materials in the man's residence. On-scene evaluations by the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deemed the explosives too dangerous to remove, leading to the decision to perform a controlled detonation. The resulting explosion obliterated the suspect's home and caused minor damage to neighboring property. Authorities have not detailed the exact kind or quantity of materials used, citing the ongoing investigation, as told by Davis to KUT.
This recent incident followed closely after a separate explosion in Northwest Austin, which injured six individuals and impacted 24 homes. Officials emphasized that the two events are unrelated and there is no current threat to the community. In response to the swift action taken by emergency services, Mayor Kirk Watson praised the city's management of the situation: "The reaction was appropriate, it was detonated in a way that was safe," he shared in an interview with KUT. Watson also underscored the importance of signing up for city alerts to stay informed and safe during such emergencies.
Aldrich, now detained in the Travis County Jail on a $100,000 bond, was charged with felony possession of components of explosives, with the potential for additional charges as the police investigation unfolds. Despite the chaos and a home reduced to rubble, the evacuations coordinated through the city's alert system ensured that no residents were harmed during the demolition. Residents are urged to keep abreast of local safety updates by registering at WarnCentralTexas.org, as recommended by city officials amidst this string of explosive findings.
