The Sweet Home Police Department is continuing to investigate an explosion that damaged a 1994 Ford Mustang last week.
Sweet Home police officers responded to a reported explosion at 1639 Main St., an apartment complex adjacent to Les Schwab Tire Center, at 2:05 a.m. on Dec. 17.
Police arrived to find evidence of an explosion inside the vehicle, said Police Chief Jeff Lynn. “It had blown a hole in the back deck (behind the seats) and blew out the back window.”
A responding officer and the owner of the vehicle, Matthew McWhirter, 31, observed suspicious items in the back of the car, Lynn said. The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit responded.
“They approached the vehicle and made the determination there were no other explosive items in or around it,” Lynn said. The troopers said the explosion was likely from a mortar round.
Police don’t know why the explosive was set off, Lynn said, but they believe that that car was specifically targeted “for whatever reason.”
The damage was contained to the vehicle, but police evacuated the residents of the apartment complex due to concerns over additional explosive devices. The families were housed at a local motel.