Several news outlets quoting police say that a man from Texas is accused of setting off “pressure-activated” explosives under toilet seats in public bathrooms, which hurt three people.
Online records show that on August 1, 46-year-old Paul Moses Alden was arrested on a charge of setting a fire that caused reckless damage or bodily harm.
KENS5 got a copy of Aldens’ arrest warrant, which says that he rigged the toilets at two car washes in the San Antonio area last month with fireworks that will go off when pressure is put on them. According to the news source, the affidavit shows that the alleged plan led to explosions that hurt three people, including a child.
Police say the first claimed incident happened on July 20 at the Wash Tub, a car wash in Helotes, Texas, which is just outside of San Antonio. This is according to an affidavit seen by KENS5. The police said they got video from a security camera that showed a man going into a bathroom for both men and women. The statement says that a woman is then seen going into the bathroom, where an explosion happens. Even though the woman was hurt, she called the cops.
A similar event happened less than a week later at another Wash Tub site in San Antonio, police said. Two people, including a child, were hurt, according to KENS5. Authorities say that security video from around the time of the explosion also showed a man who they think is Aldens.
WSAZ says that cops found out that Aldens was a regular at the car washes and had a membership that was still valid.
A spokesperson for Wash Tub told KENS5 that the company was happy with how quickly SAPD and the arson investigator were able to take action in this case. “We are still going to work together with SAPD and the District Attorney’s office.”
Records show that Alden was freed the same day he was arrested after paying a $50,000 bond. The reports show that he is waiting to be charged. People weren’t able to find an attorney right away who could talk for Alden.
