An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Police Department was helped by the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)
An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said.
The male student is a juvenile and is not being publicly identified.
Investigators with the Oak Ridge Police Department Juvenile Unit detained and questioned a male at Oak Ridge High School while working with Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday morning, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. The boy was believed to have knowledge regarding both explosions.
“Further investigation led investigators to determine that potential evidence was still inside the student’s vehicle, which was parked in the front lot of the high school,” the ORPD said. “Investigators immediately identified the vehicle, established a safe perimeter, and requested assistance from the Knoxville Police Department’s Bomb Squad. At no time were any students, staff, or bystanders in danger. Bomb squad personnel were asked to assist out of an abundance of caution.”
Evidence was recovered from the vehicle and the area was deemed safe, the city said. The student was transported to the Anderson County Juvenile Detention Center. He is facing multiple criminal charges and is expected to appear in juvenile court on Wednesday, January 24.
One explosion was detonated on Saturday, January 13, near Blankenship Field. The other was reported on Monday, January 15, at Milt Dickens Park. Nearby residents called 911 to notify police. No injuries were reported in either incident. Investigators do not believe there was any malicious intent.
This investigation is ongoing. No additional information will be released at this time.
“The Oak Ridge Police Department would like to thank the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad as well as Oak Ridge Schools and the Oak Ridge Fire Department for their assistance during today’s operation,” the city said in the press release.
See our previous story here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Police Department was helped by the Knoxville Police Department Bomb Squad. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)
An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)
An Oak Ridge High School student was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after police found evidence in a car that was connected to two recent explosions, one at Blankenship Field and the other at Milt Dickens Park, authorities said. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Police Department/City of Oak Ridge)
The Oak Ridge Police Department found a small crater that might have been caused by an explosion at Milt Dickens Park in east Oak Ridge late Monday afternoon, Jan. 15, 2018. The crater pictured here on Tuesday morning measured about 4.5 feet across and one foot deep, but the hole had been enlarged by officers taking dirt samples during the investigation. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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