St. Helens Police Make Arrest After Homemade Explosive Device Detonated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2021

St. Helens, Ore. – On Friday, November 12, 2021, at approximately 9:50 p.m., St. Helens police responded to multiple reports of a loud explosion at a residence in the 300 block of South 18th Street.

When police arrived on scene, the street was filled with smoke. A resident reported that a male suspect, identified as Clinton James Allen, 41, of St. Helens, set off an explosive device in a residential front yard before being chased off the property. St. Helens officers located Allen a short distance away and took him into custody without incident. Officers recovered a loaded .380 handgun on Allen’s person at the time of his arrest.

A detonated homemade explosive device was discovered at the scene and a second unexploded device was located. The Oregon State Police Bomb Squad was called to assist in the investigation.

Allen was lodged at Columbia County Jail on two counts of Unlawful Manufacturing of a Destructive Device, two counts of Possession of a Destructive Device, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Disorderly Conduct II.

This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-1521.

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For further information regarding this case, please contact St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.