JACKSON TWP., MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man has been charged after state police say explosive materials were discovered inside a home, prompting a controlled detonation.
35-year-old James Andrew Niedosik from Stroudsburg was charged with the following:
Having weapons of mass destruction
Risking catastrophe
Making repairs/selling, or otherwise dealing with prohibited offensive weapons
Possession of a firearm
Recklessly endangering another person
On September 24, troopers were called to a home in Jackson Township for a report of several loud explosion noises. Troopers found Niedosik on the woodline of the property and took him into custody for an outstanding warrant.
When asked about the explosion noises, Niedosik told officers that he was igniting hydrogen balloons, according to District Attorney Mike Mancuso. Niedosik's mother reported that her son liked to play with explosives and may have explosives in the house.
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Officials say that upon the initial search, troopers found explosive materials in the home and halted the search until backup could arrive.
On Friday morning, the FBI and PSP bomb technicians took over the search of the residence. The district attorney said they discovered a "clandestine laboratory in the basement" full of explosive-type materials, including Triacetone Triperoxide, an unstable homemade explosive often classified as a weapon of mass destruction. Multiple firearms and drugs were also recovered from the home.
Pennsylvania State Police conducted a controlled detonation of the explosive material to ensure the “volatile materials” are disposed of properly.
Troopers say the investigation is ongoing.
