Sacramento police make second arrest in Oak Park pipe bomb explosions case
Sacramento police detectives arrested a second man for his alleged involvement in a series of pipe bomb explosions in late January in South Oak Park.
Darren Ray Melton, 33, was identified as a person involved in the manufacturing and possession of explosive devices, the Sacramento Police Department announced Friday in a news release.
On Friday, Melton remained in custody at the Sacramento County Jail. He was booked at the jail Wednesday evening, the same day investigators served a search warrant at his home. His bail was set at $75,000.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office on Monday filed a criminal complaint against Melton, charging him with two counts of possessing, igniting and exploding a destructive device and one count of possessing a destructive device in a public place, court records show. Melton was scheduled to appear in Sacramento Superior Court Friday afternoon.
In late January, the Police Department began investigating a series of explosions near the 4000 block of 34th Street. Police said some of the explosions had gone unreported.
Homemade pipe bombs detonated around 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the 4000 block of 34th Street and around 6 p.m. Jan. 28 near 20th Avenue and 32nd Street. These explosions were reported, and there were no injuries.
Officers found an unoccupied vehicle with significant damage along 34th Street. Investigators determined the damage was consistent with a homemade explosive device was detonated inside the vehicle. Several days later, officers were called to 20th Avenue and 32nd Street and found another unoccupied vehicle with significant damage consistent with a homemade explosive device was detonated inside the vehicle.
On Jan. 29, officers were in the 4300 block of 32nd Street conducting a follow-up investigation on the explosions, canvassing the area, reviewing security camera video and serving a search warrant. During that follow-up investigation, officers found two active pipe bombs and additional evidence that a suspect detonated a pipe bomb at the intersection of 19th Avenue and 32nd Street.
Detectives arrested Cody Tristan Wiggs, 23, who police say detonated the pipe bomb at 19th Avenue and 32nd Street. Wiggs remained in custody without bail Friday at the jail.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complaint against Wiggs, charging him with two counts of possessing, igniting and exploding a destructive device, court records show. He is scheduled to return to court Tuesday.
Detectives continued their investigation into the explosions and obtained an arrest warrant for Melton and a search warrant for his home. Police said detectives found at his home explosive precursor chemicals, fusing and pipes; items consistent with the materials recovered during the investigation of Wiggs.
Investigators asked any witnesses with information about these explosions to call officers at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the P3 Tips website and app.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 11:17 AM.
