Palace Inn explosion suspect charged with possession of prohibited weapon

PORTER, Texas – Charles Douglas Bond is expected to be transferred to the Montgomery County Jail after he was charged with using an explosive device Monday at the Palace Inn in Porter.

Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies responded after receiving reports of an explosion at the motel.

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Initial 911 callers said a pipe bomb had been detonated, and there was a person with injuries to the face.

Deputies were joined at the scene by explosives experts, and an investigation lasted most of the night into Tuesday morning.

Authorities said they determined that the explosion was not due to a pipe bomb, but was caused by what deputies are calling an improvised explosive device comprised of a tennis shoe and a fireworks mortar shell.

Investigators learned that Bond arrived at the Palace Inn on Monday evening and rented a room.

Bond was seen by witnesses lighting and placing an object in the parking lot of the motel.

Several adults and children were within 20 feet of the device when it detonated, but there were no serious injuries.

Bond gathered up some of the debris from the blast, placed it in his car and left the scene, authorities said.

At least one adult and one child reported feeling the effects of the blast, but were not taken to a hospital.

While they were at the scene, deputies were contacted by the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office and were informed that SJCSO had arrested Bond for public intoxication and was holding him in its jail.

Investigators said they interviewed Bond and recovered evidence from his vehicle linking him to the explosion.

They also recovered undetonated fireworks of the same size and type used in the Porter explosion.

Investigators said Bond placed a mortar shell inside a tennis shoe, effectively creating an explosive weapon.

The debris field from the explosion was approximately 60 feet, and a number of adults and children were inside the blast radius at the time of the explosion.

Witnesses said Bond had been drinking, and alcohol appears to be a factor in the incident, according to authorities.

Bond is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a third-degree felony.

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Deputies arrested a man whom police believe to be responsible for an explosion in the parking lot of Palace Inn that injured several people.

Charles Bond, 57, was arrested Tuesday by Montgomery County sheriff's patrol deputies after they were called to a welfare check near U.S. 59 and FM 3460.

Deputies said Bond was passed out in a blue Lexus SUV and was highly intoxicated.

Bond was arrested for public intoxication and was later found to be the explosion suspect.

Deputies were called Monday to 24085 Interstate Highway 59 in Porter, Texas, after an explosion.

According to the person who reported the explosion, Bond was holding a shoe in the parking lot of the Palace Inn.

Bond asked the person if he wanted to see something cool, and authorities said he ignited what appeared to be a fuse on the shoe and set it down in the parking lot. The person said the shoe exploded, causing a loud concussion. Debris flew across the parking lot, where several children and adults were present, authorities said.

Two people were struck by debris, according to reports. A 10-year-old child was struck in the face, and said he has no feeling in his face. An adult man was also struck in the face by debris.

Investigators determined that it was not a pipe bomb that was detonated but a firework-type device.

Deputies said Bond got in his vehicle, which was described as a blue 2004 Lexus SUV with license plate number GH42LC, and fled before the arrival of law enforcement officers.

Bond was staying in room 106 at the inn, but investigators did not find any new evidence in the room.

Deputies later found Bond intoxicated in his vehicle. Bond told investigators that he was headed to his home in Cedar Park but was lost and pulled over because he had been drinking.

He is currently being held in the San Jacinto County Jail.