A Texas man is accused of setting off “pressure-activated” fireworks in the restrooms of two car washes.
According to San Antonio police, Paul Moses Alden, 46, was arrested on August 1 on suspicion of “arson with negligence causing bodily injury.” He was released the same day on $50,000 bail.
Police say Alden allegedly placed fireworks under a toilet seat, injuring someone who sat on it.
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A sign for “The Wash Tub” in San Antonio, Texas, where police say a small explosive device was placed in a toilet, injuring people. (Google Maps)
According to a police affidavit cited by KENS 5, multiple people were injured when the fireworks exploded.
The first incident was reported on July 20 at The Wash Tub car wash in Helotes, Texas. Security camera footage showed a man entering a unisex restroom before a small explosion occurred. One woman was injured, authorities said.
Six days later, a girl and an employee at a San Antonio Washtub were injured by an explosive device attached to a toilet seat, and police said they found remnants of fireworks in the bathroom.
Authorities said security cameras in both cases showed Alden entering and leaving the bathroom, sitting in the lobby watching the bathroom doors and leaving the areas after the explosions. Employees said they were able to identify him because he was a regular customer at the car wash and used a membership card.
A Texas man is accused of planting bombs in the bathrooms of two car washes. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
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“We are extremely pleased with the swift response of SAPD and the arson investigators assigned to this case,” a spokesperson for the car wash chain told TV News. “We will continue to cooperate fully with SAPD and the District Attorney’s Office.”
