A man charged in connection with an explosion in Westmoreland County in July was apprehended last night in Center Township.
State police say 54-year-old James Sever of New Alexandria was taken into custody after an off-duty trooper spotted him riding an e-bike on the Hoodlebug trail at 7:00 last night. Several on-duty troopers responded and Sever was taken into custody without incident.
Sever was wanted for allegedly planting a bomb under his former landlord’s lawnmower in Salem Township on July 20th, about a month after he was evicted. The explosion happened shortly after the victim started the mower. Police had been looking for Sever since then.
Sever is currently in state police custody awaiting a preliminary arraignment. He is charged with attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, making or selling an offensive weapon, reckless endangerment, weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe, simple assault, defiant trespass and possession of an instrument of crime.
A news conference is scheduled for 1:00 this afternoon at the state police barracks in Indiana to provide further updates.
