MONACA, Pa. — A 60-year-old man is facing several charges after police said he made an explosive device and left it outside a Monaca apartment building Wednesday night.
According to police, Robert Tilly is accused of giving an explosive device to a maintenance worker at the Spring Run Apartments in Monaca Wednesday night.
Investigators said Tilly told the worker he was cleaning out his car and found the device. He then asked him to throw it in the dumpster, police said.
Tilly’s daughter, Amy Tilly, insists her father is innocent. She said that her father was getting rid of fireworks, not a pipe bomb.
“We want folks of Monaca to know we won’t tolerate this type of activity. Officers are out in full force, and we’re still investigating. There are others involved in this,” Monaca police Chief William Petures said.
Tilly is charged with risking a catastrophe, weapons of mass destruction, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
A pipe bomb was found at the same apartment complex earlier this week, but police aren’t connecting the two incidents.
“This device was somewhat the same and different. Last night’s had three cylinders, and Monday’s had one,” Petures said.
Wednesday’s device is described by police as “three cardboard tubes containing suspected explosive material and connected by a fuse.”
Some Monaca residents said they’re relieved an arrest has been made.
“That’s good. I hope they put him away or something. It wasn’t funny at all,” Nancy Thiel said.
But some people who know Tilly told Channel 11 News that they think police arrested the wrong man.
“He didn’t do it. He’s completely innocent,” Christopher Griffin said. “Everyone in the entire area knows he’s a great guy.”
Tilly’s daughter and grandchildren live a few feet from where he was cleaning his truck. Neighbors said he would never endanger his own family.