REDDING: Bomb squad responds after man found with pipe bombs, other weapons
REDDING — Officers arrested a man and woman and the Redding PD Bomb Team responded and later detonated at least two pipe bombs after the man was allegedly found in possession of several homemade explosive devices and other illegal weapons, Thursday, July 27.
Redding police officers arrested Arnut Tungsununt after they found him to be in possession of several pipe bombs and other illegal weapons. SCSO booking photo
The discovery of the pipe bombs forced officials to evacuate the area surrounding the Redding Rodeo Grounds and nearby Posse Grounds boat launch for several hours, while bomb squad members rendered the devices safe, according to a Redding Police official.
After an investigation, authorities arrested Arnut Toby Tungsununt, 46, of Washington state. He was later booked into Shasta Jail on suspicion of possession of an explosive device. An online jail records search revealed Tungsununt remains in custody, held on $200,000 bail.
Officers determined that a woman who was found with Tungsununt, identified as Kierra Bowman, a 29-year-old transient from the Redding area, was under the influence of a controlled substance “to the level she was unable to care for herself,” Redding Police Corporal Danny Smetak explained in a written press release after the incident and arrest.
She was arrested for public intoxication and booked into the Shasta County Jail. She was later released with a citation to appear in court.
The investigation began when officers from the Redding Police Department responded to a 911 call from a citizen who reported seeing a man with a gun near the rodeo grounds boat launch parking lot about 4 p.m. The boat launch is located north of the rodeo grounds and south of the Sacramento River.
When they arrived, officers located and spoke with Tungsununt, who was reportedly standing at the back of his vehicle near what appeared to be a shotgun. Officers detained Tungsununt and Bowman for questioning and further investigation.
During their investigation, officers determined the shotgun in Tungsununt’s possession was a realistic-looking – but non-firing – replica firearm.
“While talking with both Tungsununt and Bowman, officers observed multiple suspicious ‘pipe devices’ in the back of the car near where Tungsununt was standing when he was originally contacted by officers,” said Smetak. “Tungsununt initially refused to provide information regarding the devices but later admitted they were explosive devices commonly known as pipe bombs.”
The robot returns to Bomb Team members after being used to recover and then safely detonate several pipe bombs.
Officials immediately evacuated the area of and around the rodeo grounds and boat launch parking lot and called for assistance from the department’s Bomb Team.
Bomb squad members responded to the location and eventually rendered the devices safe. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing several small explosions when Bomb Team members detonated the devices.
After the explosive devices were removed, rendered safe and the pieces collected as evidence, officers located various other items commonly “used in the manufacturing of pipe bombs,” said Smetak.
They also located and seized a homemade “zip gun” and a prohibited knife, according to Smetak; who said, “The Redding Police Department will be asking the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office to file additional charges against Tungsununt for possession of the homemade zip gun and possession of an illegal, edged weapon.”
The rodeo grounds, boat launch parking lot and surrounding area was re-opened several hours later, after authorities concluded their investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident or arrest is encouraged to contact Redding Police Corporal Smetak at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-53765 and can remain anonymous.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.