ST. CHARLES – A Willowbrook man was charged with felony possession of an explosive device – a homemade pipe bomb – which he left in a backpack at a Harley-Davidson dealer, according to police reports released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Peter Vanecek, 40, of the 800 block of Cramer Court, Willowbrook, was charged Dec. 1 for an incident that occurred July 27, in which Vanecek left a backpack containing an explosive device at Fox River Harley-Davidson, 131 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, police reports stated.

The backpack contained a commercial smoke bomb and a homemade pipe bomb made of PVC pipe wrapped with tape, and it had a wicking fuse coming out of one end, reports stated.

Vanecek posted $3,000 bond, or 10 percent of the $30,000 bail that was set. His next court date is Feb. 2.

Vanecek faces two to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 if he is convicted.

On July 28, 2017, an employee found Vanecek’s green backpack on a bench outside the main entrance to the store, looked inside and saw the smoke bomb and the explosive device and “thinking nothing of it,” brought the backpack inside and set it on a chair near the sales desk, reports stated.

Employees explained the delay in calling police because they were busy that day and forgot about the devices in the backpack, reports stated.

St. Charles police notified the Kane County Bomb Squad and the store was evacuated until the backpack was removed; then customers and employees were allowed back in, according to police reports.

Vanecek had called the business twice once stating to an employee, “Hey, if you locate a backpack, you can go ahead and toss it because I have another one," reports stated.

In another call, Vanecek left a voicemail stating he had forgotten his backpack and that it should be thrown away, reports stated.

"There might be some ordinance in there," Vanecek stated on the voicemail according to police reports. "Just get rid of it. Throw it in the dumpster. I'd appreciate it. Thank you.”

When police contacted Vanecek, he said both devices were harmless, reports stated.

After police notified Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, agents became involved in the investigation, eventually serving a federal search warrant on Vanecek’s home on Oct. 19, police records stated.

According to an ATF report provided to police, the PVC pipe bomb was approximately 4 1/2 inches in length and three-quarters of an inch in diameter and was packed with 18.9 grams of a smokeless powder, which is a "known explosive substance.”

The fuse was 5 1/2 inches long and extended through one of the end caps and into the device, the police report stated making a reference to an ATF report.

After a warrant was issued for Vanecek’s arrest on Nov. 30, he turned himself in, the report stated.