By JOSÉ MENDIOLA The Daily News
GALVESTON
Law officers on Wednesday arrested a 62-year-old
Galveston resident in connection to an explosion reported Feb. 5, officials
said.
The Galveston Fire Department received multiple calls
just before 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 about an explosion outside an apartment complex in
the 7800 block of Seawall Boulevard.
At the time, fire officials were perplexed about what had
caused the explosion, Chief Charles Olsen said at the time.
Olsen said he’d never experienced anything like the
phantom blast.
Fire officials launched an investigation, identified two
suspects and obtained arrest and search warrants, Fire Marshal Chris Harrison
said Thursday morning.
The investigation led to the arrest of John Lawrence
Hubbard, 62, of Galveston, Harrison said.
“We determined the cause of the explosion was a homemade
explosive device,” Harrison said.
Hubbard was arrested in La Marque with the assistance of
multiple agencies including the Galveston Police Department, the U.S. Marshals
Service, Bay Area regional bomb squad from League City Police Department, the
Department of Homeland Security and the ATF, Harrison said.
Hubbard’s home was searched and evidence was found to
support charges, Harrison said.
Harrison could not disclose the evidence, citing an
ongoing investigation, he said.
There is another suspect in the case as well, Harrison
said.
“There is no danger to the public,” Harrison said.
Hubbard lives about a block from the reported explosion,
according to Galveston Central Appraisal District records.
Hubbard was charged with arson damaging a building and
having explosive weapons, and was being held with a $80,000 bond, according to
Galveston County Jail records.
Hubbard posted bond Thursday, Maj. Ray Nolen said.
