Gunpowder, ammo may mean charges for collector

Tucson police say they have enough evidence to arrest the man in whose home they found dozens of firearms, and more than 100 pounds of gunpowder after paramedics answered a 911 call from a neighbor.

"In the long run," says TPD Sgt. Marco Borboa, "we may find out everything in that house was inert and there was no threat."

Investigators found an unspecified number of apparently live 20mm high explosive-incendiary anti-aircraft rounds in the home but no cannon to fire them. It is illegal for civilians to possess anti-aircraft rounds.

Police are asking the Pima County attorney to consider whether charges should be filed against Dale Eroh,56, who is in fair condition at University Medical Center after apparently having a stroke.

There were enough explosives in the house to level the home and damage homes nearby, police said.

Capt. Clay Kidd, commander of the Tucson Police Department's Specialized Response Team, said yesterday he "wouldn't have wanted any kids near this house."

"(Neighbors) have been living next to a potential explosion for quite some time."

Kidd spoke at a news conference at the house, in the 3300 block of East 24th Street near Country Club Road, where authorities have been removing firearms and munitions for several days.

If a fire had started in the house, the gunpowder inside would have created a blast strong enough to destroy the home, Kidd said.

Eroh was spotted naked outside his front door Monday by a neighbor after he apparently had a stroke.
 
Paramedics answering a 911 call discovered dozens of firearms, black gun powder and military ordnance when they entered the home.

Fourteen families evacuated from the neighborhood Monday were allowed to return last night.

"The house is completely cluttered with work benches, weapons, ammunition, black powder, tools and tons of books, and videos. It's not like a normal house," Kidd said.

Detectives found 140 handguns and rifles, many assault rifles and "thousands" of rounds of ammunition, he said.

"We found weapons in hidden compartments, weapons under the stove, weapons everywhere," Kidd said. "His neighbors told us he used to say, 'If the police or ATF came, they wouldn't find the good stuff.' "

Eroh, who had a federal gun collector's license, did not violate any state or federal laws as a gun owner or collector, Kidd said.

Detectives also found 128 pounds of gunpowder.

More than 50 pounds of black gun powder was found in the house, and that is a violation of city, state and federal gunpowder storage laws, Kidd said.

Representatives from TPD, the Pima County Sheriff's Department, Tucson Fire Department, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms cooperated in the three-day operation to catalog and remove firearms and ordnance from the house.

The inspection and removal took longer than expected because the house was cluttered and protected by a tear-gas grenade booby trap.

Authorities are storing the guns, pending the outcome of any criminal case that may be filed.

While some of his neighbors said Eroh was a former University of Arizona employee on medical disability, UA spokeswoman Sharon Kha was unable to confirm that last night.

Most of Eroh's neighbors who were evacuated Monday night said last night they were happy to be home.

But Yolanda Cruz, who lives across the street from Eroh, said it was inconvenient for her to leave for several days.

"I don't feel they had a probable cause to go in like that," said Cruz, 43. "You can't be satisfied when you are run out of your own home." Cruz, who lives with her parents, said she never felt her life was in danger, even on a day Eroh burned his grass with gas.

Charles Davenport, who lives down the street with his wife and children, said Eroh had invited him into his home a few times. Davenport said he never felt threatened by his neighbor.

"He was very courteous to the boys. They thought the world of him," Davenport said.
Neighbor Ken Hedrick is satisfied with how authorities handled the situation.

"It was an inconvenience on (Eroh)," Hedrick said. "I don't feel the police overreacted. Obviously, they were very professional. I never felt I was in danger."

Copyright © 2002 Tucson Citizen