Leetsdale police discovered more than 100 knives, bomb-making materials, drug paraphernalia and other disturbing items in a borough home recently when they responded to a call about an attempted suicide overdose.

The home's resident, 25-year-old Zachary Clifton, was released from the hospital today (Friday) and arraigned in court before District Judge Robert Ford on felony charges of risking a catastrophe and possession of explosive or incendiary materials, and misdemeanor charges of owning prohibited offensive weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Leetsdale Police Chief James Santucci said police went to Clifton’s Beech Street home on July 21 after receiving a call about a suicidal male with knives at his disposal.  Clifton was taken away by ambulance, and Santucci said officers did a cursory search of the apartment with assistance from Edgeworth and Sewickley police.

Officers found several large knives and a shotgun in plain view and filed for a search warrant of Clifton’s home, Santucci said. After obtaining the warrant, police found more large knives, Aryan Nation and Nazi paraphernalia and narcotics, LSD, ecstasy and marijuana, Santucci said. 

“It was something that I was not expecting on an individual who was well below the radar,” Santucci said.

Police also found bongs used to smoke marijuana, stuffed animals covered in a red substance that appeared to be blood, and notebooks containing a bucket list of goals like robbery, torture and murdering people, police said.

“In light of the recent tragedy in Colorado, this was an eye-opening experience for the Leetsdale Police Department,” Santucci said.

Clifton was released from custody Friday on non-monetary bond under the condition that he continue undergoing mental health treatment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.