Capital Gazette
(TNS)
A Pasadena man was arrested and charged with multiple counts Wednesday following an explosion in Glen Burnie, according to Anne Arundel County fire officials.
Greg Smith, 63, is facing felony charges of first-degree arson, manufacturing a destructive device, possessing a destructive device, using a destructive device and transporting a destructive device. First-degree arson alone can result in up to 30 years in prison. He is being held at Jennifer Road Detention Center without bond.
Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 713 East Ordnance Road around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after several area businesses reported hearing a “boom” noise, authorities said Thursday.
At the scene, they discovered smoke stains on the concrete walls of the building and a debris field roughly 20 feet in diameter with evidence of an explosive device that had been set off, but no persons with injuries or any structural damage to nearby buildings.
Investigators reviewed witness statements and security footage and identified Smith according to charging documents. Witnesses saw a truck in the area after hearing the sound and noted the tag number, which was identified as Smith’s 1996 Ford truck.
In charging documents, police said the same truck appeared on multiple security camera footage shortly before the explosion, backing into the area where it occurred. Police say the driver placed a device against the rear end of the building, where an air conditioning company is located, then ignited the device and an explosion occurred 30 seconds later, according to charging documents.
After the explosion, police say the vehicle is seen on security footage, staying in the area briefly before departing. Witnesses attempted to talk to the truck driver as he left the scene and described him to police as “irritable.”
A search warrant was executed at Smith’s home on Rockanna Road, where the Ford truck was parked in the driveway, according to charging documents.
Smith told investigators that he was getting his emissions testing done when he heard the explosion and went to explore, police wrote in charging documents. Glen Burnie Vehicle Emissions Testing Station is in the same industrial park where the explosion happened. However, security camera footage places him at the scene at the time of the explosion and police say he was the only person in the area.
713 East Ordnance Road is an industrial park, and the explosion occurred near Daikin Industries, an air-conditioning manufacturer. It is unclear what, if any, connection Smith has to the area. A representative declined to comment. Anne Arundel County Fire Department said there is no active threat to the area.
Anne Arundel County Police’s Homeland Security Section is still investigating. At this time, no evidence points to a terroristic motive, but investigators are not ruling out any possibilities.
Have a news tip? Contact Bridget Byrne at [email protected], 443-690-7205 and x.com/brdgtbyrn.
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