(Spencer)– Charges have been filed against five teens accused of destroying several mailboxes in Clay county with what officials say were pipe bombs.
17 damaged and destroyed mailboxes were discovered Saturday morning near Spencer. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office immediately contacted the Iowa State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad for assistance. A robot was utilized to retrieve some of the explosives.
Upon further investigation, authorities arrested and charged five teens. They’re identified as 15-year-old Justin Titus, 17-year-old Shawn Molitor, 17-year-old Ryan Hoffman, and 17-year-old Alan Japenga…all of Ruthven; and 15-year-old Chan Wei Li of Ayrshire. Each was charged with 17 federal felony counts of destruction of letter boxes and seven state felony charges of destruction of letter boxes with an explosive device.
All five were cited into juvenile court and released to the custody of their parents or guardian.
Sheriff Randy Krukow says with the arrests, authorities have now rendered mailboxes safe again in Clay county. He says the U-S Postal Service will restore delivery today (Monday) after it was suspended Saturday.
The State Fire Marshall’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, U-S Postal Inspection Service, Spencer Police Department, Spencer firefighters and the Clay County Attorney’s Office were involved in the investigation.
