Beaumont church to resume worship services after bomb

Worship services will go on as usual this weekend at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, days after the church office was damaged by an explosive device, the Rev. Steven Balke said Friday.

Beaumont Police and the FBI cleared the crime scene at the church Friday afternoon, removing the yellow caution tape intended to keep parishioners and gawkers away.

BPD declined on Friday to release any further information about the device, which detonated sometime between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday.

Officers were called to the church just after 9 a.m. on Thursday about some "criminal mischief," when they discovered the explosive device, Chief Jim Singletary said Thursday.

The explosion broke one window and caused minor damage to exterior brick walls and bushes next to the office door.

Employees at businesses near St. Stephen's Church on Friday said they were staying alert but otherwise treated the day as normal.

India Plowden, who watched the stream of panicked parents on Thursday picking up their children through the window of Malley Cleaners on Delaware Street, said she wasn't worried about a repeat incident in the same neighborhood.

"I'm more concerned about another incident in another area," she said.

On April 26, an explosive device was found outside Starbucks on Dowlen Road, about a mile from the church on Delaware.

That package, which was left on top of a trash can outside the store, was found just before sunrise by an employee. Unlike the device at the church, the package found at Starbucks did not detonate.

BPD confirmed that the package contained a "legitimate explosive device" but declined to reveal the contents of an accompanying note.

Singletary declined to comment on Thursday about any possible connection between the two incidents but asked residents to report any suspicious packages found at their homes or businesses.

"We're on alert," said Patrick Davis, who was working at Beaumont Major League Barber Shop on Delaware Friday. "I'm not picking up any packages."

He said fewer customers were coming in and the area seemed less busy than on typical Fridays.

A broken window at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. A package exploded outside of the church's office sometime on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Photo taken Friday 5/11/18 Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise A broken window at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. A package exploded outside of the church's office sometime on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Photo taken Friday 5/11/18 Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise Photo: Ryan Pelham, Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise Photo: Ryan Pelham, Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Beaumont church to resume worship services after bomb 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Janice Wooten, who works at State Farm in the shopping center next to the church, said she wasn't concerned about coming to work Friday but called all of her grandchildren on Thursday to warn them about not touching suspicious items.

With so many homes still being repaired after Harvey, people are receiving "lots of packages," she said. "I told them all to be more careful, and not to pick up any packages that aren't expected," she said.

"I hope the community can just watch out for one another and be mindful," Plowden said.

Lamar University announced on Friday it would have heightened security for this weekend's graduation ceremonies "in response to recent events in our area."

"There is no credible threat at this time. We are just being overly cautious," said Daniel McLemore, Lamar's associate director of marketing communications. "It's the smart thing to do."

In an email to students, the university warned people to report any suspicious items to LU police or 911.

Beaumont Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the Thursday explosion.

Singletary said Thursday that no information about suspects, possible motives, intended victims or the components of the device would be released.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz

ICYMI: Package left at Beaumont Starbucks in April contained explosive device

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz