ESCONDIDO: Man arrested for allegedly possessing explosives

By CIGI ROSS - cross@nctimes.com North County Times - Californian | Posted: Sunday, November 28, 2010

Escondido police arrested a 45-year-old man Sunday on suspicion of possessing explosives and making fireworks into illegal bombs.

Police, who said they found "hundreds of fireworks" in the Emerald Heights home, also confiscated the man's gun collection.

Richard Hinkel, 45, was charged with 18 counts of possessing explosive devices and one count of possessing materials to construct an explosive device.

Escondido Lt. Craig Carter said police were called to Hinkel's home in the 2300 block of Country View Glen, near Woodland Heights Glen, at 4:49 a.m. Sunday after reports that a man was outside yelling and possibly firing a gun.

Carter said the call spurred a search of Hinkel's home.

"That's where the explosives were found," he said.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department's bomb and arson unit confiscated the explosive materials.

Carter said police also impounded about a dozen rifles and 10 handguns.

Call staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/escon ... 69674.html