No arrests yet in bombing of Leonard police car

By Brad Kellar
Journal Staff

July 16, 2007 05:25 pm

— LEONARD — Local law enforcement authorities are waiting on information from federal investigators regarding explosive devices which detonated on a Leonard Police Department police vehicle earlier this week.
“We know it was a pipe bomb, we just don’t know what kind yet,” said Leonard Police Chief Rex Clark. “That is what we are hoping the (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) ATF can tell us.
No one was hurt when one or more persons placed two explosive devices on the car at around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. The patrol vehicle was parked at an officer’s residence in the 100 block of North Main Street when the explosions occurred.
“It put a small dent in the trunk and it blew out the back window,” Clark said of the damage to the vehicle. “It also took out a quarter of the overhead light bar.”
Clark estimated the patrol car suffered about $2,000 damage.
The officer had just gone off duty before the explosions were reported.
Fragments from the explosive devices were being examined by investigators with the ATF and Clark said he planned to meet with the officials as soon as possible.
He said there were no suspects identified and no arrests made as of Friday afternoon.
“Right now, I have nothing else to report,” Clark said.
The investigation is being headed by the Leonard Police Department, the ATF and the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is being asked to contact the Leonard Police Department at 903-587-2234, or the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office at 903-583-2143.