Police detonate explosives found at Longmont home

LONGMONT -- A bomb squad has detonated chemicals seized from the home of a Longmont man who is on probation on explosives charges.

Police found the chemicals Thursday in the home of 52-year-old Ronald Swerlein. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing explosives.

Swerlein pleaded guilty last year to possessing explosives and was sentenced to six years' probation. The judge barred him from collecting any more explosives.

Police say a neighbor reported an explosion and smoke last week at Swerlein's house. Investigators obtained a warrant and the Boulder County bomb squad searched the home Thursday.

Police say they found chemicals and "unstable powders." They dug a bunker in Swerlein's yard, evacuated five nearby homes and detonated the materials there.