A 31-year-old Red Deer man has been charged in connection with two explosive devices found at the Safe Harbour support centre last week.
Red Deer RCMP Sgt. Ian Ihme said last Wednesday, an explosive device was set off in the Safe Harbour parking lot. It did not cause any damage.
On Thursday at about 3:30 p.m., staff found another device inside the building. It was moved outside and detonated by the RCMP explosives disposal unit based in Edmonton.
Part of the downtown was closed to traffic Thursday afternoon as police dealt with the threat.
“The explosives unit said the one they detonated could have caused serious injury,” Ihme said.
Douglas Hotchkiss, 31, of no fixed address, was arrested on Saturday and remanded into custody.
Hotchkiss faces several charges, including possession of an explosive with intent to cause an explosion, making or possessing an explosive device without a lawful excuse, mischief, and failing to comply with a weapons prohibition.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 25 in Red Deer provincial court.