For the idiots who don't know how to use google.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-explosive-detonation-vintage-stave-new-details/269-aa58fdee-68f7-43d8-9246-9b104f665600
'Familiar with him and his bomb-making shenanigans' | Police chief shares details on explosive detonation at Austin home
Steven Aldrich, 66, was taken into custody and has been booked on a charge of possessing "components of explosives."
Once the search warrant was obtained, it was executed and investigators found "a large quantity of homemade explosives and explosive precursors." With the help of the other responding agencies, APD bomb technicians executed a plan to render the scene safe.
Davis said during the 24-hour investigative process, it was determined that the only way to safely detonate some of the explosive material was to do so on site.
"So, if you can imagine, getting inside and finding all of these chemicals – and again, in that 24-hour process, it was also about chemists getting involved, ATF, all of those professionals weighing in on what this looks like and what – the potential that these chemicals could cause," Davis said.
Myrick said APD needed to determine how volatile each chemical was, because when technicians start manipulating chemicals, they can become more volatile. He said sometimes, APD is able to transport small qualities of explosive materials, but the quantity of these materials was so large that a controlled, on-site detonation was needed.
Davis said residents nearby were evacuated hours before the detonation, nearby streets were closed and the explosive materials were detonated at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The home containing the materials sustained major damage, and the home next door sustained minor damage to its siding. No injuries or other damaged homes were reported, according to Davis.
Records show Aldrich had a previous explosives-related arrest in Williamson County, for which he was sentenced to six years of confinement in 2019. He was released on parole in August 2022 and had two weeks of parole remaining for that offense.
"Our SWAT team and our EOD [bomb squad] is familiar with him and his bomb-making shenanigans from the past," Chief Davis said.
Davis said no additional details about this incident will be released at this time, as the investigation is ongoing.
"The entire incident could have ended in a much worse scenario," Davis said. "I'm very thankful and I'm very proud of our EOD [Explosive Ordinance Disposal] and all of our federal partners here that no lives were lost and that no one was injured."