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Hastings man found with guns, drugs, book linked to terrorism

A Hastings Borough man, who was wanted by police on a probation violation, was found in possession of weapons, drug-making materials and a book that officers claim has ties to terrorism.

Hastings Borough Police Chief Ronald Sharkey said officers were asked to assist Cambria County Adult Probation officials with locating a 30-year-old man who was thought to be in violation of a probation agreement.

Sharkey did not reveal the man’s identity, and, on Wednesday afternoon, adult probation employees said they could not share his name because the office’s director could not immediately approve its release.

They also did not reveal the specifics of the suspected probation violation.

Officers found the man Tuesday at a relative’s home on Beaver Street, and, when he was arrested, he was found to be in possession of heroin, Sharkey said.

From there, officers took the man to his home on Kirkpatrick Street, where they searched his bedroom, Sharkey said, explaining the man gave police permission to search the room.

“He said, ‘You guys are going to find lots of stuff.’ And he wasn’t lying,” Sharkey said.

Inside the room, officers found gunpowder, ammunition, a handgun, numerous large knives and materials typically used to manufacture methamphetamine, Sharkey said.

They also located a book titled “The Anarchist Cookbook,” Sharkey said. He said the book, which contains information about drugs, explosives and sabotaging surveillance devices, is associated with domestic terrorism.

The book was written by William Powell during the anti-Vietnam War movement and initially published in 1970. Powell later denounced the ideas espoused in the book and tried unsuccessfully to have it taken out of print, but he was rebuffed by the publisher, which holds the copyright. Powell died last summer, according to National Public Radio.

Because of the terrorism factor, the case may be prosecuted at the state or federal level, Sharkey said, explaining prosecutors are now working to compile a report and list of charges.

The man was arrested for violating the probation agreement and is now lodged in Cambria County Prison.

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