Pittsburgh man charged in Lawrenceville explosion

A Pittsburgh man, who investigators said blew up a Porta-John in the city in November, is charged in federal court with throwing an explosive device from a moving vehicle in a separate incident Sunday night in Lawrenceville.

Charles Baker, 33, is charged with illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device and being a felon in possession of a destructive device after investigators said he turned himself in on Tuesday evening.

Baker is in custody, and a detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12.

Investigators said there was an explosion just before 9 p.m. on Sunday in the 3600 block of Penn Avenue causing damage to an unoccupied, parked Subaru Forester. The device, according to the FBI, contained nails, which penetrated the vehicle when it exploded.

According to the criminal complaint, the device was constructed with a Twisted Tea can, green cloth possibly from a Crown Royal bag, as well as nails, screws, car parts and a white powdery substance.

Pittsburgh police investigating the incident retrieved video from a neighboring residence that showed an older model, white and possibly green, Chevy Silverado driving westbound on Penn Avenue when the device was thrown from a passenger window.

“When the device was thrown from the Silverado, it was burning in a manner consistent with an improvised initiation system or wick,” the complaint said.

It burned for about 20 seconds before exploding.

A minute later, another video showed the truck turning into Trinity Mission Baptist Church on Ligonier Street and parking. Two people then get out.

“As the two individuals were walking across Ligonier Street, the camera captured one individual say something to the effect of ‘so it didn’t even go off,’ as the other laughs,” the prosecution said.

A confidential source told investigators that Baker lives on Ligonier Street, the complaint said, and has a history of making home-made explosive devices. Baker has previously been convicted of burglary; conspiracy; criminal trespass and drug charges.

The confidential source also told investigators that Baker blew up a Porta-John in November and that the source was with Baker when that happened and had photos of it.

That explosion, the complaint said, is one of three similar incidents that occurred between Oct. 21 and Nov. 10.

As the investigation unfolded Tuesday, federal agents searched Baker’s home, the truck, and the home of a co-owner of the truck. The co-owner, who is not named in the complaint, told investigators that Baker asked him for a ride on Sunday and once they were in the truck, they went down Penn Avenue, and Baker threw the device out the window.

According to the complaint, the day after the Lawrenceville explosion, the Silverado had undergone cosmetic changes “believed to be due to the fact that images of the truck were broadcasted on both local and national news highlighting the face that police were seeking a two-toned pickup truck in connection with this incident.”

The colored panels had been removed from the lower portion of the doors, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, during the search of Baker’s home, investigators recovered ammunition and nails.