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2 face explosives charges after Stockton church bombing, chase, crash
Two people suspected in connection with the bombing of a Stockton church are facing multiple charges, including possession of explosives, following a car chase and crash, San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies said Monday.
James Towles, 50, and Russell Altheide, 65, are suspected in the bombing of a Stockton church on Alpine Avenue and Delaware Avenue Saturday, where a person was seen on surveillance video throwing an explosive device, Deputy Alan Sanchez with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said. The device caused minor damage.
Investigators do not believe the church bombing was a hate crime. Instead, a person attending the church for a "celebration of life" event got into an argument with several other church members, Sanchez said.
After investigators suspected Towles and Altheide as involved in the bombing, they saw Towles driving in a red car in Stockton, Sanchez said. They chased him when he allegedly failed to stop for deputies.
The chase ended when the suspect crashed into the back of a pickup truck, causing minor injuries to the truck's passengers.
Deputies spotted a possible explosive device in the suspect's vehicle after the chase and rendered it safe Sunday evening. The investigation into the device had shut down the southbound Interstate 5 off-ramp at Alpine Avenue in Stockton. Some surrounding streets were also closed as a precaution.
The sheriff's office said Monday that Explosive Ordnance Disposal deputies followed up a home in the 2400 block West Sonoma Avenue in Stockton connected to the suspects.
The sheriff's office said it asked for the FBI's help in searching the home and taking inventory of "items that could be used for explosives."
As an added precaution, the sheriff's office said it also sent deputies to some of the houses around its crime scene and asked people to evacuate.
Details on what was found were not immediately clear.
Towles was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple charges, including possession of explosives, felony hit and run with injury, possession of cocaine, and possession of a "slungshot" illegal weapon, Sanchez said. Altheide was booked on charges that included possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a crime.
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发表于 2021-1-12 08:26:07
发表于 2023-1-7 09:01:52