PORT ANGELES — A bomb squad was called to west Port Angeles early Thursday after police discovered metal pipe bombs in a vehicle in the 2000 block of West 15th Street.
The bombs were found inside a vehicle that belonged to a man who had just been arrested after he allegedly threatened another man with a loaded handgun, Port Angeles police said.
Eric L. Possinger, 38, of Port Angeles, was booked into the Clallam County jail at 3:59 a.m. on investigation of first-degree assault and possession of amphetamines.
Police found one apparent pipe bomb in Possinger’s vehicle and called the State Patrol Interagency Bomb Squad, which confirmed that it, and others, were explosive devices.
“We found six confirmed incendiary devices,” said Brian Smith, Port Angeles deputy chief of police.
Bomb squad detectives and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took the bombs to a location outside the city limit to detonate them without destroying the evidence.
“We have six guys working on this, and it’s a slow, meticulous process to rendering these things safe,” said Smith, who would not say where the bombs were being detonated.
“They are detonated in a way that they preserve all the evidence. We have a bunch more work to do today and tonight.”
Smith said there was no evidence to suggest any threat to public safety.
Police responded to a report of a man threatening another person with a handgun at about 3:30 a.m. A loaded handgun and a magazine were found at the scene.
Possinger was arrested without incident, police said. He remained in custody Thursday on $2,500 bail.
Possinger had no case file in Clallam County Superior Court records on Thursday night.
Smith said it’s too soon to tell whether the U.S. Attorney’s Office or the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will file formal charges.
“We may file additional charges,” Smith said late Thursday.
“It took a lot longer than we thought today. … It’s been a long day.”
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
