Man Arrested as Clean-Up Crew Finds ‘Bomb Factory’

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested an alleged gang member Thursday evening after a clean-up crew found a crude bomb factory in his Lawndale apartment.

Ronald D. Bennett had already been evicted from his apartment in the 4300 block of West 145th Street when cleaners discovered the pipes, fuses and gunpowder early Thursday afternoon.

Arrested at Mother’s Apartment

Officers caught up with Bennett, 23, at his mother’s South-Central Los Angeles apartment. Deputies said they confiscated two pipe bombs, an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun, a bolt-action rifle and a handgun.

There is no evidence that any bombs were used or distributed. Officers found enough materials to make 70 to 80 pipe bombs, but explosives specialists say the bombs do not represent a step forward for gangs in the technology of violence.

“Pipe bombs are traditionally a juvenile item,” said Sgt. Howard Rechtschaffen, a bomb expert with the Sheriff’s Department. “I don’t think gang units are making a big thing of it.”

Rechtschaffen said the bombs, although dangerous, would not bring a building down and cannot kill people as efficiently as weapons gang members are already known to possess.

‘The First Time’

Nonetheless, Sheriff’s Lt. Brad Welker said detectives are concerned. “This is the first time we’ve found gang members with bombs,” he said.

Although pipe bombs do not signal sophistication, “God knows how far they can go (with weaponry) if they want to,” Rechtschaffen said.

The Sheriff’s Department arrested Bennett on suspicion of possession of materials for making explosive materials and possession of explosive devices. Authorities are holding Bennett in lieu of $60,000 bail at the Lennox sheriff’s station.