A 56-year-old man is under arrest on an assault with a deadly weapon charge and for manufacturing an explosive device that brought the Bomb and Arson Unit to a Cedarpines Park residence. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
Cedarpines Park, CA – Deputies from the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a Cedarpines Park residence about 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 12. Dispatch operators had received several calls of gun shots and explosion sounds coming from the 22000 block of Mojave River Road.
Multiple neighbors reported the loud bangs in the area and were concerned.
THE INCIDENT
Neighbors discovered 56-year-old Timothy Gene Almeroth was reportedly lighting off explosives and fireworks as deputies were converging on the Cedarpines Park residence and made additional calls to report the incident.
Almeroth allegedly became confrontational with the neighbors when they asked him to stop lighting fireworks, according to a Sheriff’s Department release. The suspect reportedly struck one of the neighbors on the hand with a large flashlight during the incident. After striking the victim and realizing deputies were on their way, Almeroth went into his residence.
THE INVESTIGATION
Deputies Mascetti and Perez arrived on scene and contacted Almeroth inside his home. While talking to Almeroth about the incident, Deputy Perez observed a large quantity of explosive making components inside the residence. Due to the explosives being in the home, Deputy Mascetti notified the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson Division.
Detectives from the Bomb and Arson Division responded to the scene and a search warrant was authored for Almeroth’s residence to seize the explosive components and the flashlight used in the reported assault.
The news release stated that deputies and detectives recovered over 56 pounds of liquid ammonium nitrate and other substances used for explosive manufacturing.
THE ARREST
Almeroth was arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for Penal Code 245(a)(1), Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Penal Code 18720, Manufacturing an Explosive Device. His bail was set at $150,000 for the explosives charge at $50,000 for the assault count.
He is due for a video arraignment on the charges on Tuesday, January 16, at 12:30 p.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Anyone with information about the case should contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station at (909) 336-0600.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the WE-TIP HOTLINE.
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