Hood soldier arraigned on bomb charge

WACO, TEXAS — A Fort Hood soldier suspected of having pipe bombs has been arraigned on a federal charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokeswoman Franceska Perot says Jason Alan Garthwaite Sr., of Copperas Cove, was arraigned Thursday.

Garthwaite was ordered held without bond. His attorney had no comment Friday.

According to arrest affidavits, Copperas Cove police went to Garthwaite’s home Tuesday after someone reported he made a strange request to have a bag removed from his house. After the bag’s discovery, police and a bomb squad searched the house.

The III Corps Public Affairs Office told the Killeen Daily Herald that Garthwaite, an Army specialist, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.