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Police say Ohio explosion yields arsenal

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By THOMAS J. SHEERAN, The Associated Press Updated 11:03 PM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Dozens of pipe bombs, an assortment of firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been found in a former doctor's apartment following two loud explosions, police said Wednesday.

Authorities, who found the arsenal Monday, said they don't know why the man had the weaponsor if he had any plans to use them.

FBI agents dressed in head-to-toe white protective hazardous materials coveralls and plastic gloves returned to the apartment Wednesday and carried out bags of materials.

It wasn't clear what was removed from the ground-floor apartment.

Police first thought they came across a methamphetamine lab Monday night after explosions shook the apartment complex in this city about 20 miles southeast of Cleveland, said Sgt. Gary Merton Jr.

They first noticed chemical that are used to make drugs, but then noticed the stash of weapons and ammunition. A closer search revealed at least 35 completed pipe bombs, Merton said.

The man who lived in the unit, 56-year-old Mark Campano, told an officer that he was attempting to load shotgun shells when one of them inadvertently blew up in his hands, according to a police report.

Campano, who lost his medical license in 2006, was taken to a hospital with severe injuries to his left hand and arm.

No charges have been filed. There was no answer Wednesday at a phone listing for Campano.

"It sounded like someone hit the window as hard as you could once and it reverberated throughout the building," said Rob Clancy, 27, who lives upstairs and two doors down from the blast scene. "It happened twice about 35 seconds apart."

Clancy said he did not know Campano but had seen him in passing. Clancy said he wasn't concerned as long as Campano wasn't targeting anyone.

The Medical Board of Ohio removed Campano's license, citing a history of drug dependency. The board said in its decision his continued practice of medicine would be a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.

Ammunition and handguns were strewn around his apartment, which sits next to a park in a residential area, police said. One gun had a silencer anda pistol was found in Campano's car, the police report said.

Federal agents carried out pipe bombs and a large amount of elements used to make various types of weaponry, according to the report.

The entire apartment complex, with about 30 units, was evacuated.

Robert Cogdeill, 45, who's lived all his life in a home across the street, said the apartment complex attracts a lot of police attention.

"It's always been a problem. There's always police activity there, cars running in and out," he said.

Cogdeill said he was concerned about the bomb and not knowing Campano's intentions.

"What's it capable of destroying? We don't know. Sure it concerns me," he said.

The investigation is in the early stages, said Kim Riddell, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Messages seeking further comment were left Wednesday afternoon for FBI and ATF spokesmen.

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Associated Press Writer John Seewer in Toledo contributed to this report.

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November 25, 2009 07:07 PM EST

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