TRANSIENT ARRESTED FOR THROWING EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AT TROLLEY IN LA MESA

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July 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police today announced the arrest of Darron Willams, 19, a transient accused of hurling a bottle bomb at a trolley station in La Mesa on July 3 shortly before 8 p.m. The device, a 16-ounce plastic bottle filled with magnesium and water, exploded at the Spring Street Trolley Station at 4250 Spring Street.   

After reviewing surveillance video provided by Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), it appeared someone had thrown the bottle from a westbound trolley near the station. The bottle fell to the ground. A few minutes later the bottle exploded; it was later found on the tracks. There were no injuries from the explosion and the trolley was not damaged.

On July 4, MTS Security contacted Williams following a report of a man acting strangely at the Gillespie Field Trolley Station in El Cajon. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department assisted MTS Security in locating Darron Williams, who had left the Trolley platform by the time deputies arrived. Williams was interviewed and identified by deputies and later released. At that time, Darron Williams was not a suspect in the previous La Mesa incident.

As part of the continued investigation into the La Mesa incident by La Mesa Police and MTS Security, MTS Security reviewed the surveillance footage from the interior of the trolleys at the time of the La Mesa incident.Williams was seen on the surveillance video and linked to the crime in La Mesa.

La Mesa Police detectives found Williams n El Cajon. He was arrested at 5:49 p.m. today by La Mesa Police and booked at San Diego County Jail for the following charges:

18740 PC – Possession of Explosive Device with Intent to Destroy Property
664/ 18740 PC- Attempt Possession of Explosive Device with the Intent to Destroy Property
18715 (a)(4) PC- Possession of Explosive Device on a Railway
18725(b) PC- Carry a Concealed Explosive Device on a Railway

 


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