Authorities Investigate Explosives-Making Components Found in Sea Isle City

By Donald Wittkowski Authorities are trying to identify the types of components that were discovered last weekend in a Sea Isle City condominium and are believed to be materials used to make explosives. Steven Lamb, 29, of Sea Isle, was arrested Sept. 30 on two counts of possession of chemicals and components “for the purpose of manufacturing explosive devices,” police said. Sea Isle police announced Lamb’s arrest in a press release Wednesday, but have withheld key details about the case as the investigation continues. Lamb was also charged with drug and weapons offenses after LSD strips and a CO2-powered handgun were found in his possession, authorities said. Citing the ongoing investigation, Sea Isle Police Chief Thomas D’Intino declined to comment Thursday other than to say that authorities are still trying to pinpoint the types of components found in Lamb’s possession. “We don’t know what materials he had,” D’Intino said in an interview. “At no time did we indicate that he had a bomb.” D’Intino stressed that “at no time were Sea Isle residents in danger.” Lamb’s profile on the professional networking website LinkedIn says he is the owner and operator of Altered Elevations, a company involved in “making, repairing and designing props for fire-performance art.” D’Intino did not comment about Lamb’s occupation or other details regarding his background. The employment history in Lamb’s LinkedIn profile also says he been working in event security since September 2014 for Argus Event Staffing LLC, a company that provides security at sporting and music events in the Denver area. His profile also says that he has worked as a Wawa associate in Ocean City for the past year. Wawa’s public relations office could not be immediately reached Thursday to confirm whether Lamb is employed by the convenience store chain. A Sea Isle City police car blocks off 36th Street on Sept. 30, the day authorities reportedly found explosives-making components, LSD and a handgun in the condominium complex on the left. Lamb was arrested after authorities responded to an unspecified medical incident on the morning of Sept. 30 at a local residence and saw some “suspicious materials” while they were there, according to the police press release. Sea Isle police were assisted by the Cape May County Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Weapons Unit, the Atlantic City Police Bomb Squad, the FBI and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. After he was taken into custody, Lamb was transported to an unspecified hospital, the press release said. Although police did not release the address of the residence where Lamb was arrested, neighbors said it is a condominium complex at 104 36 ^th Street, at the corner of Landis Avenue. Property records list the owner of one of the condos at 104 36^th Street as Linda Lamb. A man and a woman who live near the 36^th Street condominium complex, but declined to give their names, were alarmed to learn that explosives-making components were discovered in the building. They said they have contacted their real estate agent for more information. “All of this has us pretty scared,” the man said.