Suspect Arrested for Throwing Explosive Device at MTS Trolley in La Mesa

On 07-03-12 at approximately 7:59 P.M., La Mesa Police Officers responded to a report of a bottle bomb that exploded at the Spring Street Trolley Station, located at 4250 Spring Street in the City of La Mesa.

Responding officers located a deformed 16 ounce plastic bottle on the trolley platform.  Investigators later determined the bottle had been filled with magnesium and water, causing an explosive chemical reaction.  After reviewing the surveillance video provided by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), it appeared someone had thrown the bottle from a westbound trolley near the Spring Street Trolley Station.  The bottle fell to the ground.  A few minutes later the bottle exploded.  There were no injuries from the explosion and the trolley was not damaged.

On 07-04-12, MTS Security contacted 19 year-old Darron Williams, as the result of a report of a male acting strangely at the Gillespie Field Trolley Station.  The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department assisted MTS Security in locating Darron Williams, who had left the Trolley platform by the time deputies arrived.  Williams was interviewed and identified by deputies and later released. At that time, Darron Williams was not a suspect in the previous La Mesa incident.

As part of the continued investigation into the La Mesa incident by La Mesa Police and MTS Security, MTS Security reviewed the surveillance footage from the interior of the trolleys at the time of the La Mesa incident.  Darron Williams was seen on the surveillance video and linked to the crime in La Mesa.

La Mesa Police Detectives searched for Williams and were able to locate him in El Cajon. On 07-06-12 at approximately 1749 hrs, Williams was arrested by the La Mesa Police Department and booked at San Diego County Jail for the following charges:

18740 PC – Possession of Explosive Device with Intent to Destroy Property

664/ 18740 PC- Attempt Possession of Explosive Device with the Intent to Destroy Property

18715 (a)(4) PC- Possession of Explosive Device on a Railway

18725(b) PC- Carry a Concealed Explosive Device on a Railway

Darron Williams is currently transient.