Police ask ATF for help in probe of Hubbard explosion

Staff report

HUBBARD

Hubbard Township police are asking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for help solving the mystery of what caused an extremely loud explosion Sunday that shook houses.

Police Chief Todd Coonce said Thursday that he contacted the Youngstown branch of the agency and hopes to hear back from someone there by the end of the week.

Police said on their Face- book page that there were many Facebook posts and calls about the explosion in the northwest part of the township near Everett East Road and the Coalburg Lake area around 4:50 p.m. Sunday.

Officers checked the area, but found nothing.

Coonce said that on Monday, he and Brookfield Township Police Chief Dan Faustino walked an area known as Coalburg Lake, which is where people believe the explosion came from. They found nothing.

Coonce said he is focusing part of the investigation on a substance called Tannerite, which is a legal explosive used in target practice.

The substance could produce a big explosion if enough of it is stacked together. The explosion was felt as far as Youngstown- Hubbard Road, which is nearly two miles away, he said. Coonce said some people reported hearing shooting before the blast.

Coonce would like a call at 330-534-8477, ext. 359, if you have information, the Facebook page says. Callers do not have to leave a name.