Police called after suspected dry ice bomb explodes

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee Police Department officers and members of the Sheriff’s Department bomb squad were called out to La Ladera Park in Menifee this morning after a resident was startled by what appeared to be some sort of explosive device, authorities said.

When the woman tossed something into a trash can at the park, there was a loud bang and items flew out of the trashcan, suggesting some sort of explosion, said Captain Dave Gutierrez of Menifee PD. The woman, who was not hurt, then called police.

Members of the RSO bomb squad retrieved evidence at the site and determined the explosive device was a dry ice bomb. Gutierrez said dry ice and water put into a plastic bottle that is then capped may explode within minutes when the pressure builds up, depending on the temperature at the time.

“It’s definitely illegal to make one of those,” Gutierrez said. “My suspicion is that it was about ready to explode anyway, and when the trash was thrown in, it struck the bottle when pressure was building up and it exploded. RSO took custody of the device and the investigation is ongoing.

“No one saw anyone put the device in the can. We won’t be able to tell details about the device until RSO finishes its investigation.”

Gutierrez warned residents of the dangers of mixing any kind of chemicals in a bottle and/or mixing with dry ice with water in a closed container.