Landlord-Tenant Dispute Almost Turns “Explosive” After Fake Pipe Bombs Recovered on Fourth of July
by David Greene
Despite repeated requests, the NYPD remains tight-lipped after an Independence Day incident where “multiple” fake pipe bombs were recovered from a home in the Van Nest section.
According to one published report, an inspection by a snoopy landlord during a landlord-tenant dispute led to police shutting down the dead-end street and causing the evacuation of several homes on the normally quiet block.
Police remain tight lipped after several fake pipe bombs were removed from this Taylor Avenue home on July 4th.–Photo by David Greene
Police were called to 1610 Taylor Avenue at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, for a report of a “suspicious device.” For more than an hour heavily armed officers from the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit entered and exited the building as the holiday celebration, consisting of young children playing in a small pool and older children riding bicycles– was briefly put on hold.
A woman sitting on the porch of the home next door, said, “Yeah, I had to leave my own house. Its crazy.”
Multiple sources report one man was taken into custody and a mother and two children were removed from the building and were briefly detained for questioning, before being released.
NYPD officials stated Monday afternoon that the devices were “fake” and the unidentified man was not charged with a crime.
According to one police source, the Bomb Squad reportedly packed up “multiple devices (that) were found in the apartment, but all were inert and weren’t going to explode.”
The last police vehicle leaves Taylor Avenue after a pipe-bomb scare in Van Nest on Wednesday.–Photo by David Greene
The devices were apparently placed in a black heavy-duty suitcase and believed to have been taken to the police firing range in Rodman’s Neck for further investigation.
The incident comes one day after the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (ATF) and the NYPD released a photograph and a $40,000 reward for information regarding the July 3, 2016 explosion that maimed an 18 year-old tourist from Virginia inside Central Park.
Investigators initially stated they believed homemade fireworks was the cause, but have sense determined that it was made up of an explosive compound often favored by terrorists. The photo released was that of a 14 ounce bag of “tropical crackers” that was found at the scene.
Anyone with any information on the Central Park incident are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.
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