Police Say Caledonia Man Has Improvised Explosive Device in Home

A 21-year old Caledonia man is accused of having an explosive device inside his home while police officers were investigating a fight.

Austin W. Povkovich was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of possession of an improvised explosive device. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Oct. 28, Caledonia police officers were investigating a fight at a residence in the 6000 block of Highway 31. Officers went to the home where they found Povkovich and two females inside, who gave consent to enter the home.

While the officer was talking to Povkovich, a 16-year-old came out of a room and when the officer asked if there was anyone else inside, Povkovich said he didn't know. The officer decided to do a sweep of the home, and Povkovich told the officer he could search him. He then took a loaded gun magazine out of his jacket and said he as a concealed carry permit and he put the gun on his bed when officers arrived.

The house was dirty with empty liquor bottles, empty beer cans, clothes piled up in the rooms, both cased and uncased guns in the rooms and a makeshift bar with drug paraphernalia in plain sight. Offices also found an indoor grow operation with what looked liked mushrooms in a bin. The officer then found an improvised explosive device made from a plastic jug.

The Milwaukee County Bomb Squad was called to defuse the device, which created a 12 feet tall flame in the process. Povkovich was make his initial appearance in court Wednesday.