A 36-year-old Sherwood Park man is facing multiple charges after Strathcona County RCMP discovered a homemade explosive device inside his vehicle during a traffic stop on April 7, 2026.
Officers initiated the stop around 1:30 a.m. in a parking lot near Pembina Road and Broadmoor Boulevard after noticing that the licence plate on the man’s Buick Verano did not match the vehicle. Upon further investigation, police found a foam-insulated briefcase containing hundreds of screws and explosive wiring. While testing later confirmed the device contained energetic materials, the battery component was not connected.
The discovery prompted an immediate evacuation of the surrounding area, including a nearby gas station, while the RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit was called to the scene to safely handle the device. In addition to the explosive, officers seized bear mace, a knife, and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.
Andrew Timothy Walker, 36, remains in custody. He faces eight charges, including possession of an explosive, multiple weapons offences, impaired driving, drug trafficking, and resisting a peace officer. He is expected to appear in court on April 22, 2026.
This incident follows previous public safety concerns regarding explosives in the area. In 2018, explosions at the Strathcona County Community Centre parkade resulted in one death and $14 million in damages. More recently, the local RCMP detachment at 911 Bison Way experienced a temporary closure in October 2025 after a member of the public brought a suspected explosive device to the building.
