Crime & Safety
Mehlville Man Set Off Blast Rocking Buildings and Breaking a Window on Tesson Ferry, Police Say
St. Louis County Police said no one was injured in the Thursday evening blast.
A Mehlville man faces charges for causing an explosion outside the Avon Beauty Supply Store just before 8 p.m. Thursday in the 11800 block of Tesson Ferry Road. The explosion shook neighboring buildings and shattered a glass pane window and damaged window framing at the Avon Store.
There are no known injuries from the blast.
Joseph Wambach, 49, of the 4400 block of Mattis Road in Mehlville, was charged Friday with knowingly exploding or burning.
Find out what's happening in Mehlville-Oakvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Wambach was captured on surveillance video, according to court documents. He placed the unknown explosive object on the ground outside the Avon store and walked into a neighboring bar, according to a St. Louis County Police news release.
Wambach struggled with officers from the St. Louis County Police Affton precinct before being taken into custody, according to the news release.
Find out what's happening in Mehlville-Oakvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
No motive is known for setting off the explosion.
The St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Unit was notified and responded and will conduct all follow up investigation.
Wambach is being held in St. Louis County jail. Bail was set at $20,000, cash only.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
