A paramedic who was one of the first responders to the deadly fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas was arrested for possession of an explosive device by U.S. Marshals, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Bryce Reed, 31, was taken into custody at 2 a.m. local time, according to Reuters.
Texas officials announced that they are launching a criminal investigation into the April 17 explosion. The blast at the West Fertilizer Co. killed 14 people and injured more than 200 as well as demolishing many houses in the area. Prior to this, authorities had been considering the explosion to be an industrial accident.
It's unclear whether there is a connection between the arrest of Reed and the fertilizer explosion.
"I don't know that they're making that connection," an anonymous source told Reuters.
In the days following the explosion, Reed spoke extensively with the media about what his experience. Reed said that his home had been destroyed by the blast and that he had lost his best friend, firefighter Cyrus Reed (who is not related), according to The Daily Mail. At the time Reed told media, "There's no words to convey the magnitude of this incident."
Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, wanted to make sure that the community understood that his department was doing everything in their power to get to the bottom of what caused the fatal explosion.
"The disaster has severely impacted the community of West, and we want to ensure that no stone goes unturned and that all the facts related to this incident are uncovered," McCraw said.
Parnell McNamara, Sheriff of McLennan County, said residents "must have confidence that this incident has been looked at from every angle and professionally handled - they deserve nothing less," according to USA Today.
Amanda Atkins, a student who took an EMS class taught by Reed, was surprised that Reed was arrested, according to the Dallas Morning News.
"The Bryce Reed that I know is a great guy," Atkins said. "I don't see him being that type of person at all. He is the most caring, giving guy. I mean, wow."
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