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Phoenix PD: Arrest made in case following 'loud explosions' heard in north Phoenix

Published  March 4, 2019 9:15pm MST
Matt Rodewald's Reports
FOX 10 Phoenix

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Random unexplained explosions in Phoenix and Glendale have baffled police and neighbors for more than five months and now the mystery may be solved, as Phoenix police have made an arrest in the case.

The explosions and loud bangs began back in October 2018 and have been heard in several neighborhoods in the northwest Phoenix area between West Thunderbird Road and West Happy Valley Road and North 67th Avenue to the Interstate 17 Freeway.

According to the Phoenix police, callers used terms such as "loud explosions," "louder than a gunshot," "saw flash," "boom," and "loud bang."

>>VIDEO: Phoenix Police news conference on 'loud explosions'

Police happened to be in a Glendale neighborhood near 35th Avenue and Union Hills when they saw and heard one of the explosions. Officers questioned a man who was in a white pickup truck that matched a description of a possible suspect vehicle, but he denied any involvement.

The man, identified as 44-year-old Houston Willis, remained a person of interest and on March 4, police arrested him. He was taken into custody at his home near 35th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane.

"After processing numerous pieces of evidence, hundreds of tips from the community, interviewing witnesses and victims, detectives developed probable cause to arrest the suspect," said Sgt. Armando Carbajal.

Willis faces three counts of depositing explosives and 15 other counts related to the investigation.