Published: July 21, 2008 11:52 pm         

2 arrested for ‘chlorine bomb’ vandalisms

Two men were arrested Saturday for their alleged involvement with mailbox vandalisms just outside Clay City.

No one was injured when the bombs exploded early Saturday.

Jacob Cole Beckley of Indianapolis and Charles Andrew Shaffer of Center Point were arrested on allegations of manufacture and possession of a destructive device, a class-C felony, and criminal mischief, a class-B misdemeanor, after allegedly putting “chlorine bombs” in mailboxes around 4:15 a.m., according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Department news release.

A victim reported hearing two loud explosions around that time and seeing a vehicle drive away. A “chlorine bomb” is a mixture of chemicals put together to react and explode under the pressure of the container. It detonates randomly.

If too close when explosion occurs, it can be extremely harmful to someone’s eyes, skin and mouth. The fumes can affect a person’s ability to breath if directly ingested.

Beckley and Shaffer, both 18, said they were “playing around” and not trying to hurt anyone, the news release stated. They said they used common household items to build the bombs, and claimed to have made them on other occasions, police said.

The investigation information will be forwarded to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office for further review. Possible charges could be filed against three other suspects.

Both Beckley and Shaffer were in the Clay County jail Monday under $10,000 bail, no 10 percent.