Authorities re-apprehend Pittsburgh bomb suspect after apartment search

The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Friday re-apprehended a man charged with leaving a backpack full of homemade explosives in downtown Pittsburgh after a search of his apartment allegedly turned up new evidence.

Matthew Michanowicz, 52, of Pittsburgh, originally was arrested by Pittsburgh police this week and charged with three counts of possessing weapons of mass destruction and three counts of arson.

He allegedly rode a bike to PNC Plaza on Sunday and planted the backpack in a nearby bush. The Pittsburgh Bomb Squad found the backpack Monday after receiving reports of a suspicious package.

It was filled with canisters containing ignitable liquids, according to police.

He allegedly told police he came downtown to view see the damage after the violent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but denied possession of the backpack despite security footage showing him placing it in the bush.

Michanowicz was released from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh on Thursday after posting his $100,000 bail.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Michanowicz’s Mt. Washington home on Thursday evening, finding “elements for explosive devices,” according to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. As a result of this new evidence, authorities declared he was a “danger to the community” and “needed a behavioral evaluation,” according to the sheriff’s office. His bond was revoked.

Deputies began searching for Michanowicz on Friday afternoon. He allegedly tried to sneak into his home around 10 p.m., when he was apprehended without incident.

He is back in the Allegheny County Jail, awaiting a preliminary hearing in Pittsburgh Municipal Court which is scheduled for Aug. 4.