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OREM — An Orem man is facing criminal charges after police say he had explosive materials in his fifth wheel trailer, including a black box with the word "explody" written on it, in addition to other weapons.
Scott Larell Bowers, 46, was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with possession of an explosive device, a second-degree felony, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.
On Friday, police said they were contacted by "witnesses" about items spotted in the storage compartment of Bowers' fifth wheel, where he was living. Those witnesses took pictures of these items and gave them to Orem police.
"In the first provided photo, officers observed a black container with the word 'explody' and other words written onto it," according to a police booking affidavit. Other items had "blasting cap explosive" written on them.
Based on the pictures, Orem police went to the trailer, near 750 N. State, with a search warrant.
Inside, police "located a blasting cap, a clay substance, several colored wires connected to a metal tube, a bag full of ball bearings and magnets, and a loaded handgun magazine. Officers also located two swords or machetes in the trailer. Officers detonated the blasting cap at a local gun range to confirm that it was functional," according to the charging documents.
When questioned by detectives, Bowers "admitted to finding the blasting cap in a field in Lehi, and taking it with him because he thought it looked cool," the affidavit states.
Bowers had already been booked into the Utah County Jail the day before on allegations that he took a client's car for a joyride. Bowers, who worked for a business that sells used cars, took a client's vehicle overnight for about 11 hours before returning it, a separate booking affidavit alleges.
Police were contacted and went to the shop to question Bowers.
"I asked Scott if he unlawfully took a client's vehicle last night. Scott responded no, but he took it for a test drive in the morning," the arresting officer wrote in the arrest report.
When asked why video surveillance shows him returning the vehicle 11 hours later, Bowers said it was because he originally parked the car in the street. Police also found he was in possession of drugs, which was a violation of his probation from a previous drug conviction, the affidavit states.
He was arrested for investigation of unauthorized control of a vehicle for an extended period of time, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
