CHICAGO (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Police who were called to an apartment Sunday afternoon for a domestic incident got more than they bargained for when 12 sticks of homemade explosives resembling dynamite were discovered — prompting a response by the bomb squad, police said.
Marcello DelCarlo, 36, of 1645 W. Ogden Ave., who identified himself as a assistant professor in biochemistry, was charged with felony possession of an explosive or incendiary device and misdemeanor domestic battery, according to police who said DelCarlo was arrested at his workplace.
DelCarlo is expected to be in Cook County Court later Monday for a bond hearing.
A person named Marcello DelCarlo is listed on the Rush University Medical Center’s Web site as an Assistant Professor assigned to the biochemistry department, 1735 W. Harrison St.
Police were called to the Ogden Avenue address about 3:50 p.m. Sunday when a woman called police to say she needed assistance in retrieving her belongings from her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, police said.
Inside his apartment the police found 12 “improvised explosive devices’’ which were rendered safe by two police bomb squad technicians, according to a police report.
DelCarlo allegedly admitted he had purchased aluminum powder and potassium chlorate over the internet and allegedly admitted the he mixed these chemicals together to make “flash powder,’’ which he filled at least 14, 8-inch long cardboard tubes with before capping the ends of the tubes with plaster, the report said.
DelCarlo told police he exploded one of the tubes by inserting a fuse and lighting it in south suburban Lansing and also allegedly admitted the he made the devices to explode for July 4th, according to the report.
Ogden Avenue was blocked until at least 8:30 p.m. in both directions near Ashland Avenue, according to police.
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