FRANKLYWNOW - State Police: Hancock Man had Arsenal of Explosives

By Fox 40 Staff.
State Police have arrested a Hancock man, saying he had an arsenal of explosives.

While investigating the burglary of an estate property in Hancock, police arrested 24-year-old Stephen Esolen. Police say on Tuesday they found he had 12 electric detonators, 4 M60 igniters, a rifle with a home-made silencer, and stolen jewelry at a home at 2488 County Highway 67.

According to police, further investigation led to the recovery of approximately 20 lbs of C4 explosive that the suspect had buried on an adjacent property. Police say the next day they found numerous smoke grenades, gas grenades, incendiary grenades, signal flares, packs of fuse igniter and 2 aerial bombs.

Esolen is charged with burglary in the 2nd degree, burglary in the 3rd degree, and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He is the Delaware County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. State Police haven't released an alleged motive for the stash of explosives. according to State Police, there are no additional charges or defendants in the case. The investigation is ongoing.