EXPLOSIVES Agency seeks to revoke license

Authorities blew up about 1,000 pounds of unstable explosives Thursday.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has begun proceedings to revoke the Class 3 federal firearms and explosive licenses of Larry J. Larson, who was critically injured week ago in an explosion he apparently set off himself.
Larson, 55, who maintains residences on Cardinal Drive in South Pymatuning Township and Filer Road in Findley Township, was in critical condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.
ATF agents aided by state and local police served federal search warrants at both residences Thursday morning, seizing 5,000 pounds of explosives, about 300 firearms and 200,000 rounds of ammunition.
About 1,000 pounds of dynamite was no longer stable and had to be destroyed, said Tom Stankiewicz, ATF assistant special agent-in-charge of the operation.
Most of the seized explosives were in high-explosive magazines -- steel and wood structures designed for storage of explosives, he said.
The 4,000 pounds that were deemed safe were removed and taken to a secure ATF site, he said, declining to identify the other types of explosives seized.
State police, Allegheny County and City of Erie bomb squads were called in to help destroy the crystallized dynamite and spent most of the day setting off explosions at the Filer Road location. Stankiewicz said they expected to finish the job by nightfall Thursday.
Trooper Jonathan Bayer said state police got a lot of calls about the explosions and decided to announce what was happening.
Stankiewicz said all of the explosive material was found at the Filer Road location. None was found at the Cardinal Drive residence.
Pursuing charges
Jim Tanda, supervisor of the ATF's Pittsburgh office, said there is evidence of federal criminal violations at both locations and that both the ATF and state police are pursuing charges against Larson.
Having the explosive material in a house and garage rather than in a storage magazine would be a violation, he said.
The ATF decided to move in after Larson apparently tried to blow himself up after a fight with a personal care giver at the Filer Road home Oct. 22.
State police said Larson threatened the woman with a knife and also had a handgun and a detonator in his possession.
She was able to get those items away from Larson and fled the house, calling police. While she was talking to troopers at the end of the driveway, Larson apparently set off another explosive device in the home, injuring himself, police said.
Police said Larson faces a simple assault charge in connection with the fight with the caregiver. Tanda said that charge, plus the fact that Larson apparently set off an explosive in his house, warranted ATF intervention to seize the explosives and firearms and move to revoke his licenses.
What licenses allow
As a class 3 licensed firearm dealer, Larson is allowed to deal with all types of firearms, including automatic firearms such as machine guns. He is also a licensed manufacturer and importer of high explosives.
Stankiewicz said the explosives were used by Larson in his business, Class Three Supply Co. Inc., which includes Elite Firearms. Both are at 1400 N. Hermitage Road, Hermitage.
The amount of explosives found at Filer Road wasn't unusual for someone in the business of manufacturing and importing high explosives, he said.
He said licensed explosives dealers undergo annual federal inspections of their facilities.
ATF Agent Howard Wolfe said Larson's storage magazines at Filer Road were last inspected in August and the crystallized dynamite wasn't in those facilities then.
That search didn't include the house and garage on the property, he said.
Stankiewicz said agents are checking the seized firearms to determine if any of them are illegal.