Behind the Badge
Police arrested an Anaheim man Monday for three pipe bomb incidents and are looking into whether he is responsible for a fourth one on Easter.
Police said Donald Paul Busteed is responsible for three separate pipe bomb incidents in November and December of 2015, and APD detectives are exploring the potential of Busteed’s involvement in Sunday’s explosion.
Busteed was booked at Orange County Jail for possession of explosive devices and probation violations.
In a news release Monday, the APD chronicled Busteed’s alleged role in the incidents.
Donald Paul Busteed. APD booking photo
The first incident occurred on Nov. 13, 2015 at the Lowe’s store in the 1500 block of N. Lemon Street in Anaheim. Patrons at the store located an undetonated pipe bomb outside the main exit doors. The Orange County Sheriff’s bomb squad collected the device and rendered it safe.
On Dec. 11, 2015, a resident located another undetonated pipe bomb at the base of a utility pole in the alley in the 300 block of S. Claudina Street. The Orange County Sheriff’s bomb squad responded, detonated that device in place and collected it as evidence.
On Jan. 4, 2016, APD officers responded to a business in the 2800 block of E. White Star Avenue regarding an explosive device that had been detonated at the location on Dec. 31, 2016. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad again responded and collected the remnants of that device.
The investigation following the White Star Avenue explosion led APD detectives to an employee at the business — Busteed — who admitted to detonating the device. Busteed was arrested for possession of an explosive device and was booked at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
A subsequent search of Busteed’s garage yielded items associated with the manufacture of explosive devices, according to the news release.
Busteed pled guilty and was sentenced to Orange County Jail. He was released from custody in mid-February and is currently on probation for the White Star incident.
As the investigation into the Lemon and Claudina incidents continued, Busteed emerged as a person of interest. After forensic testing of the material from all three devices, it is believed Busteed is responsible for the placement of all three explosive devices, the news release said.
As a result, detectives from the Anaheim Police Department Burglary Detail, along with investigators from the Crime Task Force, arrested Busteed at his place of business in Fountain Valley late Monday afternoon, March 28.
Detectives then served a search warrant at Busteed’s Anaheim home with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad, looking for additional evidence.
APD detectives will be examining the evidence as they continue their investigation into these incidents, which have similarities to the explosion that occurred Sunday, March 27 at about 1:50 pm.
In that incident, APD officers responded to a report of an explosion in the 600 block of N. Anaheim Boulevard where the remnants of a detonated pipe bomb were located.
The device had been placed at the base of a utility pole in the west alley of Anaheim Boulevard, between the pole and a concrete wall. The explosion caused minor damage to the concrete wall and the utility pole. There were no injuries.
Anyone with information regarding these, or other criminal activities is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or by email at www.occrimestoppers.org
