A Westmoreland County man wanted for allegedly placing an explosive device under his former landlord’s lawnmower was apprehended Tuesday night.
James Sever was apprehended in Indiana County on the Hoodlebug Trail near Homer City after fleeing for nearly two months, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Clifford Greenfield.
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Greenfield added that an off-duty trooper reported a possible sighting of Sever, who was later apprehended without incident. He was denied bail and transported to the Westmoreland County Jail.
James Sever taken into custody
The 54-year-old is suspected of triggering an explosion by placing a pipe bomb under his former landlord’s lawnmower on July 20 at a Salem Township residence.
On July 25, he was charged, and an arrest warrant was issued. Sever faces charges including attempted killing and unauthorized possession of weapons of mass destruction.
Troopers from the Kiski Valley barracks were dispatched to a residence on Route 22 in Salem Township on July 20 following the explosion. According to court filings, investigators discovered an explosive device underneath a lawnmower that detonated when the man started it. Metal shrapnel was discovered throughout the garage, according to the criminal complaint.
According to police, the victim removed Sever from a nearby property, and Sever informed the man that he would be “hurt over this.” According to the criminal complaint, mobile phone data indicated that Sever was near the explosion scene for about 50 minutes on July 19.
State police earlier stated that there was a $5,000 reward for information that helped solve the case. Investigators believe he was riding around on an e-bike. Trooper Steve Limani stated in a news release on Tuesday that he was seen riding his e-bike before being apprehended at 7 p.m.
Police suspect he spent 58 days sleeping in the woods while on the run.
“We had no one that came forward and said they saw him or talked to him,” Limani said in a news conference on Wednesday. “Basically, for the last two months, it appears that he really hasn’t had what we would consider human interaction or any electronic device capability. The fact that troopers saw him out at this trail was very fortunate.”
Salem Township arson investigation
Authorities responded to a house fire in Salem Township, on the same property where the explosion occurred in July.
On August 22, the structure caught fire, and officials are investigating it as arson.
Sever lived on the first level of the building. Officials have not offered an update on the inquiry.
