Police in Lebanon County on Tuesday cracked open a safe containing more than a dozen homemade explosive devices, including one rigged for remote detonation, according to the county district attorney.
The Tuesday incident started after a woman went to a Berks County police station regarding a violation of a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against Timothy Shaeffer Jr., of Columbia.
The woman told investigators Shaeffer had a safe in Newmanstown, Lebanon County containing several explosive devices. An unknown number of children live in the home, the DA said.
The woman also showed police a remote firing system she said was hooked up to the explosives.
After Berks County police notified Pennsylvania State Police, troopers were sent to the home at 11 Central Drive, where residents within a quarter-mile were evacuated.
A resident of the Newmanstown home told police Shaeffer previously said the safe contained explosives.
Investigators eventually x-rayed and opened the safe, finding 14 explosive devices "of varying capabilities" and personal belongings of Shaeffer, the district attorney said.
One of the explosives had an advanced wiring system that appeared to be connected to the remote detonator the woman showed police.
During questioning, police say Shaeffer admitted to them that he owned the safe.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf consulted with state police and the FBI before charging Shaeffer with weapons of mass destruction, risking catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.
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