Suspected pipe bombs found during traffic stop near Grand Lake
A late night traffic stop on Highway 34 last Saturday turned out to be anything but routine after local law enforcement officials discovered suspected explosives and other items suspected of being bomb making parts inside the vehicle of a Grand Lake man.
Shortly after 11 p.m. last Saturday a Grand County Sheriff’s deputy pulled a vehicle over for speeding on Highway 34 near mile marker nine. According to Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin the deputy quickly discovered the vehicle’s plates were registered to a different automobile. The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Adam Pritt of Grand Lake, was taken into custody. An initial search of Pritt’s vehicle uncovered drug paraphernalia and a substance authorities suspect to be methamphetamine.
Further searches of Pritt’s vehicle uncovered a metal pipe capped at both ends that law enforcement officials believe to be a pipe bomb. Officials also found additional items suspected of being bomb making parts. A second item, also believed to be another pipe bomb, was found later during the process. Due to concerns about the suspected pipe bombs the Jefferson County Bomb Squad was called for assistance and a bomb technician was sent to the scene.
Sheriff Schroetlin noted the suspected pipe bombs were not “complex” and the items appeared to be in the initial stage of bomb construction. The Jefferson County bomb technician was able to safely dispose of the two items at the scene. Officials said the suspected pipe bombs were non-charged and deemed to be inactive.
According to an affidavit of arrest neither of the suspected pipe bombs contained explosive materials. Schroetlin said Pritt declined to talk to authorities about the suspected pipe bombs.
Pritt was taken into custody and charged multiple offenses including two felonies: Possession of explosives/incendiary devices and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
“It is important to note that based on the position of the contact there was no public safety concern,” Schroetlin said. “We did not need to evacuate any citizens from the area.”
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