Neighbors hear thunderous booms from New York apartment. When police finally investigate, they find a man’s destructive scheme

Police in New York have arrested 65-year-old Raymond Elders after discovering more than two dozen pipe bombs while investigating the area around his White Plains apartment. The worrying discovery comes after neighbors complained of hearing mysterious explosions in the area for weeks.

Police arrived at the scene in response to what was believed to be a possible transformer explosion which shook the entire neighborhood at around 4:30 AM according to an article from the NY Post. Residents had reportedly been hearing similar sounding explosions numerous times over the past few weeks but the source of the noise remained a mystery until police began investigating.

One nearby resident, Yulissa Severino, claimed that she heard two loud booms in the middle of the night. “I thought someone was going to blow up the block,” she said, “it was so loud, like they were experimenting.”

While in the area one cop noticed what appeared to be an explosive device near the doorway of an apartment belonging to Elders. This led officers to investigate the man’s apartment and what they found inside was shocking.

Raymond Elders’ apartment was filled with pipe bombs

Inside Elders’ apartment was the answer to what had been causing the explosion sounds for weeks as 25 complete pipe bombs were found within the premises. The 65-year-old man was swiftly arrested and charged with use of a weapon of mass destruction among other charges. When police took him into custody Elders allegedly had black and blue residue on his hands and was holding a lighter.

Surveillance footage also allegedly showed the man standing in the street before lighting a device and throwing it down the street. The device then exploded as the man ran away from the scene.

During an appearance in federal court in White Plains, Elders’ crime was labeled “the height of recklessness,” with prosecutors warning that he could have killed himself or others with his hoarded bombs.

As for why Raymond Elders allegedly had a collection of bombs in his apartment, authorities believe that it may be tied to a neighbor dispute although an official motive has yet to be released. Another person was initially taken into custody but is now reportedly being treated as a witness.

In a statement White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety Wade Hardy assured residents that the area was now safe and free of explosives. He claimed that all explosive material had since been removed from the apartment and that “the immediate neighborhood is safe.” As for Elders, he has been turned over to the FBI.