WEST JORDAN, Utah, Jan. 3, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A West Jordan man is facing four charges of possession of an explosive device, a second-degree felony, after he allegedly plotted to set off bombs in Salt Lake City on New Year’s Eve, then changed his mind.
A probable cause statement from Salt Lake County’s 3rd District Court said Rocky Andres Graczyk, 40, is also facing a charge of electronic communication harassment, a class B misdemeanor.
On Dec. 17, the suspect’s brother called police and reported he was concerned about his brother, the statement said.
“He showed officers text messages where Rocky was asking for money to buy guns,” the probable cause statement said. “The text messages also included a photo of four large pipe bombs and five C02 cartridges. The photo was followed by text messages saying they were ready to go and loaded with highly explosive gun power. Rocky also sent a text message stating he was going to get cannon fuses through the mail.”
Detectives observing the suspect’s house saw Graczyk place multiple items in his trash and then walk the trash cans out to the curb on trash collection day.
Detectives recovered the trash and searched its contents. Inside the trash, detectives located two large gun powder containers and a receipt for five C02 cartridges purchased at Big 5 Sporting Goods. C02 cartridges can be used to make bombs. A search warrant was served on Graczyk’s home and detectives recovered multiple fuses.
Graczyk was taken into custody and read his Miranda rights. He agreed to speak to officers.
“Post Miranda warning, Rocky admitted to making the pipe bombs and sending the picture to his brother,” the statement said. “Rocky told me he filled the larger pipe bombs along with the smaller C02 cartridges with the gun powder. Rocky stated his intention was to scare a lot of people by setting the bombs off throughout the city on New Year’s Eve. Rocky said he had changed his mind and put the gun powder back in the container and then
throwing the pipe bombs away in a city dumpster.”
Graczyk has an extensive criminal history and has made multiple threats towards law enforcement, the probable cause statement said.
The electronic harassment charge stems from the fact that the suspect’s brother reported he told Graczyk to stop contacting him in any way. He has blocked Graczyk’s number, but reported he receives approximately 30 calls a day from blocked numbers, and his brother often leaves him voice messages.
Graczyk has been booked into Salt Lake County Jail with bail set at $100,000.
