Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
An Albuquerque man is out on bond after his arrest Tuesday for detonating a bomb police said destroyed a portable toilet at Conchas State Park.
Todd Parey 42, was charged with dangerous use of explosives, possession of an explosive or incendiary device and criminal damage to property, all felonies, said Sgt. Emmanuel T. Guttierrez, New Mexico State Police public information officer.
Guttierrez said officers responded to a call at 2:25 p.m. Monday from park Superintendent Paul Fishell regarding the detonation of an explosive device. He said the blast had not injured or killed anyone.
Guttierrez said officers were told there was a large explosion along with large plumes of black smoke seen north of the camping area.
Upon officers arrival to the north camping area, they discovered a state owned portable toilet that was destroyed by what appeared to be an explosive device, said Lt. Lance Bateman.
Bateman said the intensity of the blast scattered debris more than 40 yards from the blast site. He said an eyewitness told officers a black Infiniti sedan left the area around the time of the explosion.
Bateman said an officer had noticed a similar vehicle leaving the Big Mesa residential area. Officers located the car driven by Parey and stopped it at 3:30 p.m. on N.M.
Bateman said Parey admitted being responsible for planting the explosive that destroyed the portable toilet. He said Parey also admitted making the device and to purchasing various bomb making ingredients.
Bateman said search warrants were executed on Parey's home in Albuquerque, where additional bomb making ingredients were seized.
Bateman said the incident is not connected to explosive devices discovered at the Clovis Landfill on March 5 and near the Prince Street overpass on March 11.
Parey was being held at the San Miguel County Detention Center.