East Austin bunker under home

[O6nop]

Austin American Statesman story about a man that dug a multi-level bunker under his house. Looks as if he did it for protection or an armageddon event or something. What I don't see is what law he has broken for them to do what they are doing. It states he hasn't been charged with code violations and the weapons were legally owned. Sounds like a violation of due process if they go for it. It's a police blotter story so there is definitely more to the story, but they need to make that clear because they are attacking him as a nut job, but he is not unlike many others who are preparing for the worst.

[A-R]

Thanks for the post. I missed that one today. I too would like to know under what authority they have take these steps, including "storing" his guns for him (such nice folks, APD).

Here's the text of the story as of tonight in case the Statesman changes it later ...

Consultants: Fill in East Austin bunker
By Jeremy Schwartz | Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 03:30 PM

A engineering group hired by the City of Austin is recommending that a 35-foot-deep bunker excavated beneath an East Austin home be filled in.

“After the excavated area is stabilized, we can look at the fate of the house,” said Melissa Martinez, spokeswoman for the city’s code compliance department.

Officials say retiree Jose Del Rio built the multi-level structure below his home at 2006 Canterbury St.

Last week, a police SWAT team, bomb squad and fire search and rescue team searched the home for more than four hours after a visit to the home from code officials. The search yielded weapons, inert grenades and empty 55-gallon barrels.

The underground structure consists of two levels large enough to walk through and a bottom level that officials described as a small cylinder-shaped room. Del Rio’s home has been boarded up, fenced off and the utilities turned off, officials said.

Officials have not determined whether the city or Del Rio would be responsible for filling the hole. Killeen attorney Linda Kaplan said Del Rio would not comment on the case.

Martinez said officials are also concerned about potentially hazardous materials found in the bunker, including compressed gas tanks and lead acid batteries. She said city officials would work with state environmental officials to dispose of the hazardous materials.

Del Rio has not been charged with any code violations, Martinez said.

Austin police said Tuesday that Del Rio is not the subject of a criminal investigation. Austin police Cpl. Scott Perry said the Police Department is storing a number of Del Rio’s legal firearms while he is unable to re-enter his home. “We didn’t confiscate anything,” Perry said.

[74novaman]

inert grenades and empty 55-gallon barrels.

zomg!! EMPTY 55 gallon barrels?!?!

[A-R]

it's as if the reporters who write these stories just copy down word for word what the police tell them about the "alleged crime" and don't use one ounce of brain power to actually THINK "is any of this actually a crime?" before printing it.

And I worked in newspapers for 10 years, so it's not like I'm just mindlessly media bashing either. That story is POOR JOURNALISM that should not have run in an American newspaper as is (hold the story until you can get more facts instead of just mindlessly rehashing what the police mouth piece told you and running it in your "Blotter")

[RiverRat]

I hate to say it but an Austin city public servant would declare a day old cheeseburger a bio-hazard and zoning violation. Actually, I don't hate speaking the truth. You'd have to live here to understand.

[Frost]

He BROKE THE LAW! When I drive through neighborhoods these days i see code violations on every corner! We cant not stand for this constant disrespect for THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. It is our patriotic duty to support more laws against these CODE VIOLATORS.

[TexasGal]

So...the old guy gets his home invaded, his guns "held for him", and all his hard work for naught for no code violations, no illegal guns, nothing criminal, and empty 55 gallon barrels. The worst they could hold up as a reason was batteries!!

Holy cow, I guess we had all better watch out. By that measure, we are all about to have big brother descend upon us for surely most of us meet some part of that criteria for invasion, confiscation, investigation, and seizure of our homes.

Perhaps the missing puzzle piece is he is crackers as can be and has a long history of serious mental illness. Oh, wait, according to the libs, anyone who owns guns and prepares for national/natural disasters is nuts.

All sarcasm aside, the only thing I can think from the story is the way he dug out the bunker, it was in great danger of collapsing house and all, but there was no code violation. If that is not the case, then I hope he gets a good lawyer and is able to send those tyrants packing.

[Purplehood]

Point 1: He did indeed violate building codes. I am sure that digging a 2 to 3 story hole under your house in a residential neighborhood is a violation. In my mind if he was living up on Ruby Ridge with his nearest neighbor being in the next county, it wouldn't be anyones business let alone a code violation.

Point 2: He might have violated hazardous material storage regulations.

Point 3: The Police are storing his weapons while he is unable to enter his residence, and did not confiscate them.

We can all feel free to speculate about the implications of the above points, but as the story currently stands I don't see what the issue really is.

[RPB]

I hope they return his backup power supply batteries, for when the tornado hits the area and knocks out power ... perhaps someone could hold a fundraiser and get him a Wind/solar charger and a proper concrete/steel tornado shelter installed so the poor guy doesn't have to shovel all that out again.

There is no better insulated home than underground .... Sounds like he was doing the Energy conserving thing "going green"
Just without permits, which I didn't know were even required if you do the work yourself instead of hiring it out?

SO, I guess the only issue is ... he should bring it up to code, re-inforce the underground areas for better support with beams and concrete if needed. Perhaps adding EMP protection would be a good idea while they are remodeling for him too, to protect against nearby lightning strikes..

Either that or .... he was chasing that one elusive termite queen ...

Must have been a "slow news day" in Austin.

I can't even dig 2 feet underground without hitting rock .... forget trying to transplant a rose bush.

[jimlongley]

I can't imagine that my backup batteries are hazmat, well actually, I can, but that's almost tantamount to saying I was storing lead and acid in my cars.

There was a blurb about this on one of the news channels the other day, and the reporter made it sould as if the occupant was suspected of terroristic acts or something. The only reason I even noticed the article was the excited tone of the voice over: "Numerous guns and possible explosive devices . . ." so I missed the better part of it, and was unwilling to sit though the cycle to wait for the article to come back up.

[C-dub]

I still don't see why code enforcement officials were there in the first place. I also missed where it said this guy was mentally deficient in any way.

[RPB]

I know a place that stores LOTS of 12 volt deer feeder battieries ... ALSO >>> I think they are using GUNS to kill deer (in season), and the batteries are part of their plot ...wonder if I should call the Sheriff? (They may have canned goods and a battery operated AM/FM/Weather radio in a root celler/storm celler too ... I dunno, probably needs investigating)

[KD5NRH]

I can't imagine that my backup batteries are hazmat, well actually, I can, but that's almost tantamount to saying I was storing lead and acid in my cars.

That was pretty high on my list of objections too. The claim as to what was actually in the bunker is separate from the claim of finding inert grenades, weapons and 55 gallon drums. For all we can tell, he could have had one of these on the kitchen counter: Actually, since they don't mention what he did before retirement, he might be a woodworker who buys the inert grenades and makes the little plaques. Tanks of compressed gas might have been a cutting/welding rig for making barbecue grills out of the empty drums. A lot of retirees do things like that for some extra cash.

[RPB]

Tanks of compressed gas ... news said they were Oxygen and Acetylene .... probably for Acetylene torch welding if he was going to get some steel and shore up/make support beams for his newly dug basement before he got interrupted. My retired neighbor is welding up a carport this week.

[gigag04]

Any word if has ties with radical extremist groups - sounds like the MO of the CSA guys I've read about.

I'd bet good money there's more to this story that we don't know. I bet lunch actually...at Pappasitos.