2 face explosives charges after Stockton church bombing, chase, crash
Two people suspected in connection with the bombing of a Stockton church are facing multiple charges, including possession of explosives, following a car chase and crash, San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies said on Monday.
Residents in a Stockton neighborhood were asked to evacuate their homes while the FBI assisted with searching a home that deputies say was connected to the suspects and full of bombmaking materials. The scene has since cleared.
James Towles, 50, and Russell Altheide, 65, are suspected in the bombing of a Stockton church on Alpine Avenue and Delaware Avenue Saturday, where a person was seen on surveillance video throwing an explosive device, Deputy Alan Sanchez with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said. The device caused minor damage.
Investigators do not believe the church bombing was a hate crime. Instead, a person attending the church for a "celebration of life" ceremony got into an argument with several other church members, Sanchez said.
After investigators suspected Towles and Altheide as involved in the bombing, they saw Towles driving in a red car in Stockton, Sanchez said. They chased him when he allegedly failed to stop for deputies.
The short pursuit ended when the suspect crashed into the back of a pickup truck, causing minor injuries to the truck's passengers.
Deputies spotted a possible explosive device in the suspect's vehicle after the chase and rendered it safe Sunday evening. The investigation into the device had shut down the southbound Interstate 5 off-ramp at Alpine Avenue in Stockton. Some surrounding streets were also closed as a precaution.
[asset removed due to syndication rights]The sheriff's office said Monday that Explosive Ordnance Disposal deputies followed up at a home in the 2400 block West Sonoma Avenue in Stockton connected to the suspects.
The sheriff's office said it asked for the FBI's help in searching the home and taking inventory of "items that could be used for explosives."
As an added precaution, the sheriff's office said it also sent deputies to some of the houses around its crime scene and asked people to evacuate.
Among the possible bomb-making materials found in the home was a pressure cooker. At least 14 rifles and handguns were also recovered, Sanchez said.
Towles was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple charges, including possession of explosives, felony hit and run with injury, possession of cocaine, and possession of a "slungshot" illegal weapon, Sanchez said. Altheide was booked on charges that included possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a crime.