Man Facing Charges After Bomb Scare At Armstrong County Motel
KITTANNING (KDKA) -- A man is facing serious charges after state police say they found an alleged explosive device in his Armstrong County motel room.
The incident happened Thursday at Staley's Motel along Ortman Road in Rayburn Township.
State police say 34-year-old William Stover of Kittanning has been charged with weapons of mass destruction, possessing instruments of crime, prohibited offensive weapons, recklessly endangering another person and harassment in connection with the incident.
According to investigators, it all started when Stover's girlfriend showed up at the state police barracks in Kittanning to report he had a homemade explosive device.
"There was a coffee can that had in it two explosive devices surrounded by metal objects – drill bits, shrapnel," Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said.
Authorities say she also reported the pair had gotten into an argument and that he also allegedly struck her on the head.
State police then responded to the motel, which was evacuated.
Stover was taken into custody when he came out of his room.
"I honestly don't think he would have done anything bad even though they say he had all that in that house or that apartment," Stover's mother said. "He just needs a lot of help right now."
State police say they then found the device, a coffee container reportedly filled with consumer fireworks and pieces of metal, inside the motel room. Authorities say it was "designed to be detonated by a fuse."
Stover was arraigned and is being held in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 19.
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