At a news conference this afternoon, State Police from the Greensburg barracks provided more details about the arrest of a man charged in connection with an explosion in July.
54-year-old James Sever of New Alexandria, wanted for allegedly planting a bomb under his former landlord’s lawnmower in July, was arrested last night. An off-duty trooper spotted him riding an e-bike on the Hoodlebug Trail, and responding troopers took him into custody without incident.
Dave Martin, Sever’s former landlord and the victim of the attack, recounted the moment the explosion happened.
He was known to frequent wooded areas in the Blairsville and Derry areas. Trooper Steven Limani said that he didn’t expect to find him that far north, but it does make sense.
Sever 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. He was denied bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 22nd.
