House of Horrors: Leetsdale Man Facing Charges After Weapons, Nazi Materials Discovered

A Leetsdale man was arraigned today on charges stemming from the discovery by  of more than 100 knives, bomb-making materials, drug paraphernalia and other items in his apartment.

Police said they found the materials, including one gallon of acetone and lacquer thinner, both used to make bombs, after responding over the weekend to a call about an attempted suicide overdose in the building where Clifton lived.

The home's resident, Zachary Clifton, 25, was released from a hospital earlier today and arraigned in court before District Judge Robert Ford. Clifton is charged with felony counts of risking a catastrophe and possession of explosive or incendiary materials. He also faces misdemeanor charges of owning prohibited offensive weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Leetsdale Police Chief James Santucci said police went to Clifton’s Beech Street home July 21 after receiving a call about a suicidal male there with access to knives. Clifton was taken away by ambulance, and Santucci said officers searched the apartment with assistance from  and.

After officers saw several large knives and a shotgun in plain view, they filed for a warrant to search Clifton’s home, Santucci said. After obtaining the warrant, police found more large knives, Aryan Nation and Nazi paraphernalia and narcotics, LSD, ecstasy and marijuana in the apartment, Santucci said. 

 “It was something that I was not expecting on an individual who was well below the radar,” Santucci said.

Police said they also found bongs used to smoke marijuana, stuffed animals covered in a red substance that appeared to be blood and notebooks containing a list of such goals as robbery, torture and murdering people. The list did not include names of specific people targeted for potential crimes, police said.

“In light of the recent , this was an eye-opening experience for the Leetsdale Police Department,” Santucci said.

Santucci said the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were notified and involved throughout the investigation, but decided not to pursue federal charges because none of the materials included fuses, pipes or other devices that would ignite the bomb-making material. Police did find items included one gallon of acetone, one gallon of paint thinner, peroxide, two bowls filled with gun powder and bird shot, according to a criminal complaint.

Clifton was released from custody Friday on non-monetary bond under the condition that he continue undergoing mental health treatment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.

A sign has been posted on the window of the apartment where Clifton had been living, indicating that he has been evicted since his arrest. Police also said he no longer lives in that apartment building.

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