Investigators learned dynamite was stored at a Stagecoach home, after tribal police arrested a man with explosive detonators in Carson City, authorities said.
About 4 p.m. Thursday, Washoe Tribal police responded to a report of a man behind the water tower at the end of Wialaki Street in west Carson City. There, they allegedly found Wyatt Whitten, 27.
"My officers made contact with the driver, patted him down for weapons and found marijuana," said Rick Norris, chief of police for the Washoe Tribe.
He said during a search of Whitten's truck they also found four detonators and a roll of fuse.
Whitten was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of explosives, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Norris said during questioning, Whitten told investigators there was dynamite at his father's Stagecoach home. Whitten had planned to take it into the desert and explode it, Norris said.
After destroying the detonators about 6 p.m. in Carson City, the bomb squad went to Whitten's Stagecoach home and found 20 to 30 pounds of explosives his father legally possessed from his mining days.
Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Page said the bomb squad detonated 30 sticks of unstable dynamite before detonating the remainder about 10:30 p.m.
Page said the case will be reviewed to determine if any criminal charges will be filed.
Whitten is being held in the Carson City jail on $5,000 bail. A court date of Feb. 13 has been set.
Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
