http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12532827&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473648&rfi=607/29/2004
Detectives describe Wernle as a "threat to the public"
Troy police got more than they bargained for when they detained Aaron Wernle last weekend following complaints from residents on Wren Hill that the 22-year-old Troy man had been walking through the neighborhood and peeking in their windows.
When police got their man back to the station, they found in his back pocket a small bomb. The bomb consisted of two carbon dioxide canisters, a magnet between them, wrapped in electrical tape and filled with large amounts of gunpowder and several B.B.s. Startled detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence at 529 Dogwood St. Apartment B, and quickly discovered a half dozen viable bombs inside, along with a stash of bomb-making materials such as fuses, lighter fluid, .22 calibre bullets, and small pieces of metal wire. Among the material they found two volumes of "The Poor Man's James Bond," and "The Do-It Yourself Gun Powder Cookbook."
"He's a definite threat to the public," said Troy police Detective Chris Coyne. "Nobody in their right mind does this."
On Monday, Madison County State's Attorney Bill Mudge charged Wernle with unlawful use of a weapon for possessing more than a quarter ounce of an explosive substance. He is being held at the Madison County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Wernle is the son of Terry Wernle, of Marine, whose Soft Touch adult bookstore outside Edwardsville was shut down three years ago after state officials claimed he owed $7,600 in back taxes. Wernle committed suicide shortly afterwards.
Troy police very nearly didn't catch Aaron Wernle. When they arrived at Wren Hill, Wernle saw them and fled. "A foot pursuit ensued, and they ended up apprehending the guy," Coyne said.
Coyne declined to speculate about Wernle's intended target or how powerful the bomb was.
The fuses on the carbon dioxide canisters were taped together to form a single fuse, according to court documents. Wernle would most likely have had to light the fuse for it to have exploded, police say. At one point, Wernle reportedly told them, "I would not touch that if I was you."
Police gingerly placed the bomb in the station's sally port and called the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit at Scott Air Force Base. DOD agents were able to dismantle the bomb. The bomb, they said, was well constructed, and it therefore was probably not the first time Wernle had made one.
Detectives got the search warrant for Wernle's apartment and searched a storage shed in the back yard and a storage room inside the apartment.
In addition to the six viable bombs, police found two boxes of shotgun shells, with the tops cut off and the gunpowder removed, a metal pipe with four holes, pieces of metal shrapnel, plastic PVC tubing, a box of Daisy B.B.s, a box of carbon dioxide cartridges, boxes of matches, and more.
EOD agents were called back to Troy, and they were able to safely dismantle those bombs, as well, Coyne said.
On Monday, detectives searched for more explosives, this time inside Wernle's 2003 Silver Chevrolet Blazer and inside an employee locker at the McDonald's restaurant in Troy where Wernle worked. They obtained the warrant on Monday. No evidence was found at either location.
Did Wernle pose a threat to the community?
"Most definitely," Coyne said. "Any reasonable person would not do this stuff."
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