Vietnam Veteran Longs Returning Home After Police Evict Him On Mistaken Explosives Charge

EAST AUSTIN, TX — While most of us gather at home this Christmas to exchange gifts collected under the tree, one East Austin man longs for just one thing: His house, from which he was ousted six years ago by police who mistakenly believed he was building an underground bunker for explosives.

Vietnam War veteran Joe Del Rio, 76, was led out of his childhood home at 2006 Canterbury St. in East Austin by police, who mistakenly believed hie was building an underground bunker for storage of explosives, the Austin American-Statesman explained in a Saturday report.

Despite a massive police response from SWAT teams bearing equipment to defuse bomb and explosives, some inert grenades and firearms were found but no ordnance was discovered inside the makeshift bunker. Yet city crews sealed it off with concrete just to be sure.

The city then deemed the home to be structurally unsound, cutting off utilities and sticking Del Rio with a $90,000 bill for needed for improvements and related fines, according to the report.

Del Rio can't afford to make those repairs, and has been living in a South Austin condominium since being unceremoniously ousted from his home to which he longs to return.

Two years ago in a civil trial, Del Rio succeeded in having the fines overturned as well as ridding himself of the bill for the concrete pour, the newspaper reported. But city officials continue to ban the man from his home given its lack of utilities.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has stepped in to raise awareness to the man's plight, and efforts are under way to raise needed funds.

So for now, Del Rio waits.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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