West EMT arrested, charged with possession of destructive device

Bryce Ashley Reed charged with possession of destructive device

WEST, Texas – A volunteer paramedic with the West Fire Department was arrested early Friday morning and charged with possession of an destructive device, federal sources told Local 2 Investigates.

Bryce Ashley Reed was arrested after federal investigators received a call from the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, sources told Local 2.

According to sources, Reed asked an acquaintance to store a box for him sometime after the April 19 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company. Sources said that person decided to look in the box and discovered what appeared to be a pipe bomb.

Sources said that person then called the Sheriff's Office, who called federal investigators.

So far, investigators said they have found no connection between this discovery and the explosion. Reed is due to be arraigned Friday morning on federal charges.

McLennan County Jail booking clerk Brandy Gann said Reed arrived at the jail at about 2:40 a.m. Friday and was released to federal agents before 8 a.m.

On Friday, Texas law enforcement officials launched a criminal investigation into last month's deadly fertilizer plant explosion.


About the Author

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”

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