A 19-year-old was arrested on New Year’s Day after police found him with a pipe bomb inside city limits.
A San Benito police officer was passing by Blanquita’s Restaurant on North Oscar Williams Road when he heard a loud bang.
The officer saw fire on the ground near the building and saw a tall man walking away from the fire.
The teen identified himself as Mark Olivarez.
The officer walked over to the fire and saw a black tube with metal wires scattered on the ground.
Olivarez told the officer that he saw a video on You-Tube about how to make a bomb from sparklers and was trying it out.
Olivarez had outstanding warrants from the San Benito Police Department and was placed under arrest.
The evidence from the bomb was collected by the San Benito Fire Department.
Olivarez was charged with Prohibited Weapon for the manufacturing of an explosive weapon.
His bond was set at $15,000.
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