Evidence indicates explosion at Mercury Plumbing was a crime
By Emily Alpert Staff Writer
Gilroy – Police are investigating an explosion at a plumbing company that they say is no accident.
Shortly after 1pm, Saturday, police responded to the scene of the unexplained explosion, which flung debris several hundred feet, making Mercury Plumbing an unlikely crime scene.
“Items that were collected as evidence show that it wasn’t (an accident,)” said Sgt. Kurt Svardal. “We can figure out a lot of things based on them.”
Those objects may yield clues to the blast and to a suspect. The explosion, which was not chemical in origin, damaged Mercury Plumbing, 5750 Obata Way, Suite G, and Larson Steel Inc., located across the street at 5727 Obata Way, Svardal said. No one was injured, and the building was evacuated. Police and fire crews cordoned off the scene, where they spent nearly seven hours collecting evidence.
Metal shrapnel shot through the sheet-metal door of Larson Steel, said owner Peter Larson, who wasn’t in his shop at the time.
At 3pm Saturday, he learned of the explosion, and arrived at the business to let police into his office.
Larson estimated that the metal flew nearly 150 feet before slamming through the door.
“It had to be a pretty good blast,” he said.
The owner of Mercury Plumbing could not be reached for comment.
The blast is under investigation.
Emily Alpert covers public safety for the Dispatch. Reach her at 847-7158, or at ea*****@************ch.com.
