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“On January 2 at approximately 10:30am officers from the Grant Police Department received information from detectives with the Kent Country Sheriff’s Office that an individual living in Grant was possibly building homemade explosive devices.
It was reported that the devices had been partially dismantled and disabled, then thrown into his trash receptacle.
The Michigan State Police bomb squad was contacted for assistance. Shortly, thereafter, these devices were located in the trash receptacle. Additionally. the Kent County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old Luke Isaac Terpstra on Jan. 2 in Kent County and took possession of other weapons. The subject indicated his intent to attack a location outside of Michigan.
Grant Police Department photo.
Terpestra received a $1 million cash bond. This is an ongoing investigation and more charges are possible. Luke Isaac Terpstra, 30, of Michigan, was arrested by the Grant Police Department on Jan. 2 and charged with Explosives – Possession of Bombs with Unlawful Intent.
The Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are actively involved in the probe.
“The City of Salem and the Salem Police Department recognize that it is frightening and concerning that there are individuals who would threaten or carry out violent attacks against others based on their beliefs and that we are a target,” Salem Police said. “On the one hand it is gratifying that our federal and local partners were able to thwart Terpstra. On the other, it is terrifying that he walked in our midst planning such violence.
Grant Police Department photo.
It is for this reason, we maintain a presence on the Joint Terrorist Task Force (JTTF), we maintain an explosive ordinance detection K9, we participate with our partner agencies in the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), we train our officers for such an attack, and we carry additional armor in our cars,” the release continued. “Regardless, an attack such as Terpstra was planning keeps us up at night.”
Mayor Dominick Pangallo and Police Chief Lucas Miller “believe it is important that the people of Salem be aware of this arrest and its connection to our city. Salem is a diverse, vibrant, and welcoming community and the City and the Police Department of Salem are committed to ensuring the safety of all who live in, work in, or visit our community.”-Grant Police Department.
