Neighbor on Bodfish raid: 'It's just too close to home'

BODFISH, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A man and woman accused of possessing drugs and explosives were arraigned in Kern County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, neighbors described the two days when officers searched the suspects' house in Bodfish.

"It's just too close to home," Randy Carson told Eyewitness News. "That doesn't happen up here. It's a pretty quiet neighborhood."

But, on Friday two big SWAT vehicles rumbled down Laurel Drive, and also a Bomb Squad vehicle. Dozens of officers headed to the house where 57-year-old Steven Hasner, 60-year-old Eileen Hasner, and 28-year-old Nicholas Hasner were arrested, according to Kern County Sheriff officers.

RELATED STORY | 3 arrested in Bodfish after booby traps, guns, drugs and 'anarchy cookbook' found

Investigators say they found several dozen firearms, including some fully-automatic assault rifles and ammunition. Officers say they found a "frag grenade" and four explosive devices. They also seized several pounds of marijuana, some methamphetamine, hashish, mushrooms and about $40,000.

Officers say the property had several improvised explosive devices, and what investigators described as booby traps and trip wires.

Carson said he had asked a deputy what was going on, and the response was not comforting.

"He says, 'No, I can't talk about it at all. But, I can assure you you're safe right where you are,'" he said.

Carson had heard a helicopter and watched the officers posted on Laurel near his home.

Jim Uribe lives about 100 yards from the suspects' house, and he's worried after hearing what was found there.

"You just don't know what people are capable of," he said. And, Uribe said the house did not look suspicious.

"It surprised me, because the house is so immaculate," he said. "He has lights up there all the time for the holidays."

Living closer to the suspects, Pat Grooms said he thought something suspicious was happening, but he doesn't think drugs were being sold out of the house.

Grooms said Hasner worked as an auto mechanic out of the big shop and yard adjoining the house.

It's a good-sized property, and Grooms also said the trip wires were placed around the yard.

"He's got enough surveillance over there to cover two football fields," Grooms said.

He said knowing what officers pulled out, he's more concerned for the safety of some elderly neighbors who live nearby. He's also worried for his own family.

"There's where my grandchildren live, my kids," he said, pointing up the dirt road.

On Tuesday, Steven Hasner faced eight felony charges in court. Those include possession of a destructive device, assault weapon, and drugs for sale. Also a count of making a destructive device without a permit, and keeping a place to sell a controlled substance.

Eileen Hasner was charged with two drug- and weapon charges.

Both entered not guilty pleas, and are set to be back in court next week.

Neighbors say the officers who showed up on Friday basically set up camp and continued searching the suspects' property on Saturday.

Jim Uribe said neighbors heard two explosions on Friday, and he heard another one Saturday.

The neighbors say they expected peace and quiet in Bodfish. But, Grooms insisted something suspicious had been going on, and he sounded relieved that officers had made the arrests and seizures.

"I'm amazed that it's taken this long," he said.

Sheriff officials say the search warrant was served as a result of an investigation into the sales of illegal drugs.