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Suspect, But No Motive, In Bottles Found In Colorado River

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Authorities in western Colorado have a suspect in the dumping of chemical-filled bottles in a river but don't have a motive so far.

Forty-three-year-old Ricardo Parras-Membreno was arrested Friday after police say they saw him placing bottles in the Roaring Fork River in Basalt. They had been staking out a spot where other similar bottles had been discarded.

meth bottles
A river bottle found in the Roaring Fork River (credit: Basalt Police)

While police have suspected they contained ingredients used to make methamphetamine, Basalt police chief Gregg Knott said Monday that a search of Parras-Membreno's home turned up no evidence of drugs.

According to court documents, Parras-Membreno wouldn't explain the reasoning behind his actions.

It's not clear if he has a lawyer.

Tests have found that the contents are corrosive and sometimes flammable. Court documents say "explosive precursors" have been found but no explosives.

(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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