Police: Weapons, Explosive Devices, 250 Gallons Of Jet Fuel Found In Fairfield Home
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Police and federal agents said a suburban homeowner will likely face criminal charges for allegedly making bombs in his upscale home in Fairfield.
The homeowner, identified as 69-year-old Joseph Callahan, called police Tuesday to report a burglary, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.
Police responded to the Bronson Road home and discovered hazardous chemicals, up to 200 guns, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, apparently homemade explosive devices and 250 gallons of jet fuel, Young reported.
Police: Weapons, Explosive Devices Found In Fairfield Home
"Anybody who makes bombs has some sort of nefarious reason for it," Police Chief Gary MacNamara said. "There are indications that he did have some hobbies with regards to rockets. When he crossed the line or why he crossed the line into manufacturing explosive devices, we don't know."
The bombs are described as sticks of explosives that would be detonated by a lit fuse and are larger than an M-80 firecracker but smaller than a stick of dynamite, Young reported.
Authorities were in the midst of a clean-up of the weapons and explosives that is expected to last well into Thursday, CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported.
There is so much ammunition at the home that police say they expect to fill up a moving truck rented just for this case.
Authorities said a giant cache of chemicals loaded in two different multi-car garages will be carted out Thursday.
Officials said individually, the chemicals are inert, but when combined they pose an explosive hazard, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.
Neighbors said they were shocked.
"It's a house worth $1.3 million. It's been there a long time" neighbor Mark Carey said. "I don't know. He's gone off the reservation."
"What a nice-looking house in this beautiful neighborhood," neighbor Peggy Brenton added. "I don't know what to make of it."
"There was no way to know what he was doing inside," another neighbor, Rosinne Chalala, told Carrasco.
Callahan, who now faces possible criminal charges, is a former research chemist at the now-bankrupt Remington Arms Company.
Police: Weapons, Explosive Devices, 250 Gallons Of Jet Fuel Found In Fairfield Home
He is facing possible charges for making explosive devices and possibly even for possessing the chemicals to do so, Young reported.
"It may be legal to possess chemical A, and it may be legal to possess chemical B. It becomes illegal when you combine them," MacNamara said.
Callahan was being examined at a local hospital, Schneidau reported. Callahan was initially hospitalized because he seemed disoriented, Young reported.
The explosive devices were removed from the home Tuesday night, Young added.
Fairfield Chief Richard Felner said many residents in the area opted to stay with relatives or friends during the investigation, but MacNamara told Schneidau there is no danger to anyone in the neighborhood.
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