A rural Victoria man was arrested Thursday in Wichita after local and federal law officers found a pipe bomb and other explosive devices at his home.
Ellis County Attorney Thomas Drees would not disclose what led officers from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, the federal department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the State Fire Marshall’s Office to search the home of Timothy Paul Gatschet.
Gatschet, 58, was not at home at the time of the search. As of Friday afternoon, he was being taken back to Hays, and bond had not yet been set.
Drees said Gatschet is married, but his wife was also not home when they searched the home, and she’s not being charged with any crime.
Timothy Gatschet is being held on suspicion of possession of an explosive device.
Drees said the pipe bomb found consisted of gunpowder inside a galvanized pipe, and that explosive devices and materials used to build explosive devices were found.
After samples were taken for use as evidence, the remainder was detonated in a nearby field by the bomb squad.
©Salina Journal