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Man arrested for blowing up PG&E transformers in San Jose, police say
KGO-TV San Francisco ^ | Saturday, March 4, 2023 | Zach Fuentes and Amanda del Castillo

Posted on 03/04/2023 10:38:13 PM PST by fluorescence

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The San Jose Police Department is investigating after a suspect in possession of explosive material was arrested. He's now believed to be responsible for blowing up two PG&E transformers.

The suspect has been identified as 36-year-old San Jose resident Peter Karasev who made his first court appearance on Friday.

SJPD says the investigation began with two separate incidents involving explosive devices between December and January.

On Jan. 5, officers responded to the 6000 block of Snell Ave. on a report of a damaged transformer. A PG&E employee said an explosion occurred the night before around 2 a.m.

The employee also said a similar incident happened on Dec. 8, 202 at the 5000 block of Thornwood Dr. in which an explosion caused damage to a transformer.

Both explosions left thousands without power.

Investigators say surveillance video and cell phone pings led them to Karasev who was arrested on Wednesday.

Police also say he had an "inactive" meth lab in his home and admitted to using methamphetamine as a replacement for Adderall during the shortage.

Additionally, the complaint details the suspect's interest in model rockets and setting some off outside his home. Investigators also say he told them he'd been having a difficult time due to the war between Russia and Ukraine since he has family in both countries.

"Related to the transformer bombings, he's charged with two counts of exploding a destructive device as well as two counts of destroying an electrical line as well as an arson charge," said Deputy District Attorney Victoria Robinson with Santa Clara County. "Related to the items found in his home, he is charged with possessing materials with the intent to create a destructive device."

Cameras were not allowed in court but ABC7 was there as the public defender's office revealed details of Karasev's life in an attempt to get him out on supervised release.

They say Karasev is a software engineer at a company called "Zoox" that develops self-driving cars and is a married father of three children, a 1-year-old, 3-year-old and 5-year-old.

Right now the investigation at his home is still active.

As more comes out from that investigation, the district attorney says Karasev could face more charges.

He's being held without bail and is expected back in court on April 26.

PG&E released the following statement in response to Karasev's arrest:

PG&E takes seriously the protection of critical infrastructure, and we appreciate the responsive action of the SJPD.


TOPICS: Russia; US: California
KEYWORDS: adderall; amandadelcastillo; breakingbad; california; grid; methamphetamine; methlab; peterkarasev; powergrid; russia; sanfrancisco; sanjose; santaclaracounty; ukraine; victoriarobinson; zachfuentes; zoox
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1 posted on 03/04/2023 10:38:13 PM PST by fluorescence
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To: fluorescence

.


2 posted on 03/04/2023 10:38:37 PM PST by sauropod (“If they don’t believe our lies, well, that’s just conspiracy theorist stuff, there.”)
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To: fluorescence

Traditional Catholic?


3 posted on 03/04/2023 10:40:47 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: fluorescence

If he blew them up at night, there’s really no reason to spend time investigating it.


4 posted on 03/04/2023 10:44:05 PM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals)
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To: fluorescence

“Investigators also say he told them he’d been having a difficult time due to the war between Russia and Ukraine since he has family in both countries.”

A bit of local blowback because of mixed loyalties?
Pro-Russian feelings prompting sabotage?

This stuff comes out first in people with “issues”.


5 posted on 03/04/2023 10:56:48 PM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
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To: fluorescence

Hmmm… he has an “inactive” meth lab at his home where his three children, a 1-year-old, 3-year-old and 5-year-old live? What could possibly go wrong.


6 posted on 03/04/2023 11:05:53 PM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA. -PRO-MAXI)
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To: fluorescence

“...the complaint details the suspect’s interest in model rockets
and setting some off outside his home...”
-
I’m not sure what this has to do with anything.


7 posted on 03/04/2023 11:13:51 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: fluorescence

A couple of transformers, in the same area, were also blown up Sept 2022....and August 2020....and April 2018...and 17 transformers were taken out April 2013 by sniper rifles.

In none of the cases was “Climate Change” blamed - though weather was.


8 posted on 03/04/2023 11:18:57 PM PST by stylin19a ("If You Can Read This, Thank a Teacher. If You Can Read It In English, Thank a Veteran")
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To: Repeal The 17th
I’m not sure what this has to do with anything.

He lives beneath San Jose International Airport's airliner landing path.

http://vfrmap.com/?type=vfrc&lat=37.363&lon=-121.929&zoom=10&api_key=763xxE1MJHyhr48DlAP2qQ

9 posted on 03/04/2023 11:34:08 PM PST by Reeses
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>> married father of three children, a 1-year-old, 3-year-old and 5-year-old

A troubled, selfish individual


10 posted on 03/04/2023 11:53:38 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Repeal The 17th
“...the complaint details the suspect’s interest in model rockets and setting some off outside his home...”

I’m not sure what this has to do with anything.

Yeah, a saboteur (blowing up critical infrastructure) having an interest in model rocketry is totally irrelevant!

/mordant sarcasm

Just like a guy caught trying to poison a city reservoir having an interest in chemistry would be completely irrelevant!

Seriously?!

Regards,

11 posted on 03/05/2023 12:07:55 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: fluorescence

folks,

Can we just say that the US is basically under a full scale attack on every front?

oh wait, It’s been under attack since even long before 9/11 (which was the 21st century equivalent of a Pearl Harbor attack.)
I knew right there when Bush said shortly after 9/11 that “Islam is a religion of peace” that we were not going to fight. last one out, turn off the lights.
(I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time in Muslim majority countries and have had only good experiences for the most part, but you still need to identify your enemy)

The very historical FACT that by 2003 we were invading Iraq again barely a decade after the Gulf War as our response to 9/11 was a clear signal we were off course in the “war on terror”
(In my 3D chess mind, i was hoping that we were going to back to Iraq to finally deal with the head of the Islamic terror machine, Iran. Pincers of Iraq to the east and we controlled Afghanistan to the west—but that was not to be)

Now in 2023 we literally have domestic terrorists (Antifa, blm, cartels, wokeness, etc....) ripping apart the internal infrastructure of the US like vultures.
yep pretty soon, there will be Joy Reid qualified people flying your plane. And yes, the more it happens the more people will die.


12 posted on 03/05/2023 12:41:50 AM PST by Jaysin (Trump can’t be beat, unless the democrats cheat)
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To: fluorescence

Another fall guy for an fbi / cia op.


13 posted on 03/05/2023 3:12:00 AM PST by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

We’re lucky he didn’t have an arsenal too.


14 posted on 03/05/2023 3:56:47 AM PST by meatloaf
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To: fluorescence

“A transformer is made to explode. That’s its meaning. Its purpose. Your life is empty because you spend it trying to stop the transformer from becoming. And for who? For what? You know what a transformer is, Jack, that doesn’t explode?”


15 posted on 03/05/2023 4:14:22 AM PST by Tom Tetroxide
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To: fluorescence

This guy is Russian.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-karasev-3526a05


16 posted on 03/05/2023 4:16:17 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: fluorescence

Per his Linked in page

Georgia Tech
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Computer Engineering
Image Processing, Control Systems, Robotics, Applied Math, Software Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology
Master of Science (MS)Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
2009 - 2009


17 posted on 03/05/2023 4:18:07 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: fluorescence

Deport him.


18 posted on 03/05/2023 5:03:41 AM PST by VTenigma (Conspiracy theory is the new "spoiler alert")
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To: fluorescence

So it wasn’t Global Warming?
I am shocked


19 posted on 03/05/2023 5:04:48 AM PST by Zathras
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To: VTenigma

It’d be fitting to electrocute him, if they can find a place in California with power.


20 posted on 03/05/2023 5:10:08 AM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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