Published: July 09, 2009 09:01 pm      

Explosives discovered at Ferguson residence

Somerset — Several Ferguson homes were evacuated Thursday afternoon after authorities found explosives in a residence on Jacksboro Street.

A 911 hang-up call was made by someone at 716 Jacksboro Street around 1:30 p.m. yesterday. When Somerset Police arrived at the residence, they discovered three individuals smoking what appeared to be marijuana — and they also noticed a device that resembled a pipe bomb, said Somerset Police Det. Shannon Smith.

Further investigation revealed that “other explosive accessories used in commercial blasting” and gunpowder were also being stored in the home, Smith said.

“(The explosives) could have easily caused serious physical injury and death,” Smith said. “There was enough of it there for us to be concerned for the safety of the occupants and officers.”

Two adult males and one adult female were evacuated from the home, and several homes nearby were evacuated by police while investigators removed the items from the residence.

The Kentucky State Police Hazardous Devices Unit and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) investigators from London were called to the scene to investigate.

At press time, no arrests had been made, but authorities were questioning the occupants of the home.

“From our standpoint, there is only one reason somebody would have a destructive device, and that is to destroy things,” Smith said. “Whether they would be targeting people or whether they have a fascination with blowing things up, Kentucky law doesn’t differentiate.”

Smith said federal charges could be filed in the case. If the individuals are charged on a state level, they could be facing several counts of possession of a destructive device, with each count being punishable by one to five years in prison, Smith said.