Pennsylvania State Police and federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Columbia home of a man who prompted an evacuation Sept. 9 in Mill Creek Township.
On Sept. 10, law enforcement executed a second search warrant at Timothy Shaeffer Jr.’s Lancaster County residence. Shaeffer faces charges that include weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe and reckless endangerment.
According to the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office, police were able to locate multiple electronics and another remote firing system/device similar to the one seized during the investigation. Officials added that the wiring was similar to the devices found Sept. 9.
“The goal of these devices allows for remote detonation,” the Da’s office said in a release. “Members of the State Police Bomb Squad confirmed the wiring system located in Newmanstown was capable of remote detonation and showed sophisticated construction.”
Pennsylvania State Police Jonestown requested an evacuation of residents within a quarter-mile radius of 11 Central Drive, a house in Mill Creek Township, Lebanon County, Sept. 9, 2025.
On Sept. 9, law enforcement located 14 explosive devices of varying capabilities at the 11 Central Drive home in Mill Creek Township that allegedly belong to Shaeffer. Police investigation revealed Shaeffer allegedly left a safe the devices were in at the residence and told the current resident of the home the safe contained explosive material.
Mill Creek Evacuation: DA: Columbia man charged after police remove explosive devices in Mill Creek Twp. home
Upon identifying the explosives on Sept. 9, law enforcement tracked Shaeffer’s last known address in Lancaster County through his phone. According to the Lebanon County DA’s office, Shaeffer was taken into custody in Columbia without incident in the evening hours of Sept. 9 by state police.
Officials said Shaeffer originally refused transport from Lancaster to Lebanon County to face his current charges. After a legal extradition process, Shaeffer was transferred to the Lebanon County Prison late Sept. 10 and remains in custody.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said in the release. “We are asking anyone with information about Shaeffer, his prior history, and/or his knowledge of explosives to please contact the Office of the District Attorney at (717)-228-4403 or the Pennsylvania State Police Troop L-Jonestown at 717-865-5067.”
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: DA: Columbia man accused of making Mill Creek explosives in custody