Menifee Man Arrested for Possession of Illegal Explosives

A Menifee man was arrested today on felony counts of possession of bomb making components and possession of a destructive device after police investigated a series of explosions in a remote area of Lake Elsinore.

Jeremy Ingram, 38, was booked into Southwest Detention Center. He was arrested by police after Riverside County firefighters heard explosions close to them as they were extinguishing a small brush fire in a remote area near El Toro Road in Lake Elsinore.

Firefighters contacted the Riverside County Sheriff's Department after they encountered several people who were shooting exploding targets about 11 a.m. today, police said. The Hazardous Device Team responded and conducted an investigation, which found the suspect in possession of several exploding targets.

These items typically consist of at least two parts, and they become a sensitive and dangerous explosive when mixed, police said. Exploding targets are illegal to possess in California before they are mixed, as well as after the components are mixed together.

For questions about exploding targets, the public can contact the Hazardous Device Team at 951-955-1700.