FARMINGTON – A judge entered a not guilty plea Tuesday for a man accused of throwing a homemade pipe bomb filled with gasoline through a living room window while a family was home.

The incendiary device didn’t go off. It was an alleged attempt to scare the family, according to police.

Mark Reynolds, 20, was arrested Monday by Farmington police and charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and terrorizing with a dangerous weapon.

He was arraigned Tuesday before District Court Judge Robert Mullen with defense attorney Woody Hanstein at his side. Mullen ordered him held in jail on $5,000 cash and $15,000 surety. A probable cause hearing was set for Sept. 18. Mullen also ordered a competency evaluation.

According to a police affidavit, Reynolds threw a rock through a picture window of a home early on July 12 on Barlen Street in Farmington. He then allegedly threw a pipe bomb-type device that landed inside the residence. The device, which was described as “crudely” made of plastic and metal, was about 6 inches long and about 1 inches in diameter. The device appeared to be hollow and held together by black electrical tape, it stated.

According to the affidavit, witnesses told police the suspect got out of a car wearing camouflage clothing and went to the back of the house. They said they heard a loud bang and the suspect then returned to the vehicle and left the scene, the affidavit states.

Farmington police Detective Marc Bowering’s affidavit also states Reynolds admitted to throwing the incendiary device through the window and told police he was sorry. The affidavit also states Reynolds said he had filled the device with gasoline only, no powder or other accelerants. He also allegedly taped the end caps and saturated the wick, or fuse with gasoline, knowing that once it was saturated, it wouldn’t go off, the affidavit states.

Reynolds told police he knew that gas wouldn’t light if the item is saturated, the document stated. Reynolds also told police that he did light the fuse while standing outside the house, that he watched it sparkle and then go out and then threw it through the window.

He told police he only wanted to scare a male resident there, the document states. It also notes that Reynolds told police that he was “glad” that the pipe bomb did not go off, that he didn’t want to hurt anybody.

Bowering also stated that he contacted the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and advised them of what he was investigating. BATF stated that Special Agent John Morris would be up to take possible federal action on the case. On Monday, Morris went to the Farmington Police Department and said the ATF would most likely be involved, Bowering wrote in the affidavit.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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