Editor's note: This article has been updated. The story is still developing

The Oregon State Police, the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI's explosive technician teams are back on scene at the residence in Scappoose, Oregon on Sunday, December 20, 2020 to secure the residence location where multiple explosive devices have been discovered. The teams are continuing the investigation and might need to do more controlled disposals. The neighboring homes were evacuated.

A search warrant was initially served on December 18, 2020, by the Oregon State Police at a residence in the 33000 block of Sequoia St., Scappoose, Oregon. During the execution of the search warrant, Investigators encountered the substance that could present an explosive hazard. Investigators had secured the scene for the night and left to return in daylight hours with explosive experts.

OSP has not yet provided any further details concerning the warrant that was served.

Oregon State Police explosive technicians along with teams from the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI have so far disposed of 4 devices during the execution of the search warrant at the residence. Neighbors are now being notified that they may return to their homes, after some initial confusion.

The drama started on December 18, when an OSP from the St. Helens worksite stopped a vehicle operated by Richard Gundy-Hampton in the 33000 block of Sequoia St. in Scappoose, Oregon. The stop occurred next to the residence where Gundy-Hampton lived. Gundy-Hampton was a subject of interest in a domestic violence incident that occurred in Clackamas County.

During the contact with Gundy-Hampton, Troopers discovered evidence of methamphetamine possession, weapons possession and that he had been potentially manufacturing a destructive/explosive device. Detectives from OSP Criminal Investigative Division responded to the scene and obtained a search warrant for the residence and vehicle.

Soon after beginning their search, Investigators located suspicious items in the garage indicating that Gundy-Hampton had been manufacturing highly explosive materials inside the garage of the residence. The search of the scene stopped and explosive experts from Oregon State Police, the FBI, Portland Police Bureau and Gresham Police Department responded to the scene to assist. Explosive experts and investigators continued their investigation Saturday and Sunday, identifying six items containing explosives, which were disposed of on scene. Numerous other items were also transported from the scene by the OSP Explosives Unit for later disposal off site. The safe disposal of the items discovered in the residence required approximately 10 neighboring residents to be evacuated from their homes during the day Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the explosives, Investigators seized a large number of firearms, illegal firearms parts and illegal drugs from the scene.

Gundy-Hampton was lodged at the Columbia County Jail and is currently being held at the Columbia County Jail on $5,000,000 bail.

As of this release all the residents displaced by the investigative activities and explosives disposal have been allowed to return to their homes. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-12-20 11:12:48

Last Update: 2020-12-20 17:57:00