Pokemon Cards Lead Police To Man Charged After Detonating Homemade Explosives: Official

ABERDEN, MD — Several explosions have rocked an Aberdeen neighborhood the past several weeks. Police say they have arrested the man who is responsible.

Around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aberdeen police officers responded to the area of South Rogers and James Street for a report of a loud explosion. This was the same area residents have reported hearing explosions in during the middle of the night since mid-May. Officers found a crater near a tree line that was littered with Pokémon cards, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

One of the officers recalled arresting Jeremiah E. Burnette of South Rogers Street a few days before with a stack of Pokémon cards in his possession. Coincidently, a resident called Aberdeen Police the same day to report he had argued with Burnette , who ended the conversation with Burnette, saying, "Boom." The same person found a Pokémon card on his front step a few days later, the state fire marshal's office disclosed.

Deputy State Fire Marshals, BATFE agents, DSFM-bomb technicians and the explosive detection K9 Rosie responded to the scene. Police officers with the Aberdeen Police Department discovered several Pokémon cards and wrappers in the area and other evidence connecting Burnette to the explosion, the state fire marshal's office noted.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team and Aberdeen officers carried out a search warrant at Burnette's home where several packages of Pokémon cards were found. Burnette was arrested and during questioning, he told investigators he was the one who had detonated the devices. Investigators describe the devices as Illegally manufactured explosive devices, commonly called M-80s, and are federally banned explosive devices. They can cause hand, eye and facial injuries and hearing loss, according to the state fire marshal's office.

Burnette gave no specific reasoning for detonating the explosives. While the investigation continues, there is no evidence of Burnette being affiliated with any group posing a threat to homeland security and no injuries occurred during the explosions, the state fire marshal's office said.

Burnette has been charged with two counts of possessing a destructive device and two counts of using a destructive device. Burnette was taken to the Harford County Detention Center and released after posting a $10,000 personal unsecured bond.