SAN FRANCISCO—A man has been arrested by the San Francisco Police Department on April 10 for utilizing a homemade rocket that caused an explosion. According to a press release from the SFPD, on April 8, officers from the Tenderloin District Station responded to the 500 block of Leavenworth Street about an explosion. After arriving on the scene, officers saw debris consistent with a homemade rocket.
A witness informed police that they saw an unknown, approximately 5 feet and 10 inches tall, 30-35 year old Caucasian male put the device on the ground and walk away. The device exploded moments after the suspect fled traveling westbound on Geary Street on a bike.
The SFPD Bomb Squad arrived to the scene and conducted an investigation and did not find any other devices. Surveillance video showed the suspect placing and lighting the homemade rocket, before it exploded. The SFPD released a crime bulletin about the incident. Over the course of the investigation, SFPD’s Arson Task Force developed a possible location of the suspect.
On April 10 at approximately 8:11 a.m., a male matching the description of the suspect was spotted in the area of the 1800 block of Post Street. He was wearing what appeared to be the same or similar clothing as the suspect in the crime alert bulletin.
Authorities detained and took into custody, Scott Campbell, 51, of San Francisco at the corner of Webster Street and Bush Street. A search warrant was issued for Campbell’s home. The search found homemade rocket building supplies and other hazardous materials.
Campbell was booked at San Francisco County Jail on counts of a person in possession of explosives, possession of a destructive or explosive device, a person recklessly in possession of an explosive or destructive device and an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence.
The SFPD is still investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD 24 hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
