Yreka Bomb Suspect: "This Guy Was Ready For War"

Yreka police have arrested a man they say was armed with more than 15 homemade explosive devices, over 70 loaded magazines, over 4,000 rounds of ammunition, 1 stolen pistol, 2 assault weapons, 3 other weapons... including one with a silencer... surveillance equipment, a tactical vest and clothing with face masks.

Yreka's Police Chief, Brian Bowles, says "This guy was ready for war. We were very lucky this guy was stopped and nobody was killed yesterday."

The incident began Tuesday afternoon when police got a call about a person acting "weird" near the Siskiyou County Probation Department. When officers arrived, they say the suspect, 54 year old Michael Solano, went for his gun. During the struggle over the gun, two passers-by joined in and helped the officers get Solano into handcuffs. Police say Solano said several time he wanted officers to kill him.

Police say when they searched Solano they found an explosive device on his leg. They found more in his car and evacuated the area until a bomb team could safely clear them away. A Sheriff's Detective, Ben Grossman, carried the devices to a bomb trailer. After that they were taken to the Siskiyou County Airport where a pit was dug and the explosives were safely detonated.The Sheriff's Office says hand-made devices varied in size from 18 inches by 3 inches to the smallest at 6 inches by 3 inches. They say each device had added fragmentation designed to injure and kill when they went off.

Solano is from the Sacramento area. He is in the Siskiyou County Jail on charges of possession of a destruction device, transportation of a destruction device, resisting a police officer by force, attempting to take an officer's firearm, assault with a firearm on a peace officer. Police say there will be additional charges.

The suspect was out on bail from an incident that occurred on July 18, 2008, where he had one explosive device in his vehicle at county probation in Yreka.