Former West Paramedic Released on Bond

A former West paramedic charged with possessing an explosive device was released into his parents' custody after a bond hearing Thursday.

Bryce Reed was arrested in May on federal charges of possession of bomb-making materials.

A federal agent testified Thursday that, during the funeral of Cyrus Reed, one of the men killed in the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Bryce Reed's wife commented that Bryce and Cyrus liked to use explosives.

That same day Bryce Reed asked two friends to remove a box from his house and that in the box was the makings of a pipe bomb, the agent said.

Prosecutors wanted Reed to stay in jail, but the defense prevailed Thursday.

"I've been dealing with his family for quite a while now. We're all thrilled with the results and we're glad the judge took all the facts we put forward into consideration and we're glad he decided to release Bryce. We're very excited," said Reed's attorney, Jonathan Sibley.

A judge ordered Reed be released on bond into the custody of his parents. Reed was given a $25,000 bond, a U.S. attorney tells NBC 5.

Reed will remain under the constant supervision of his mother and father.

When Reed arrived at his parents' Rockwall home on Thursday night, about 10 neighbors greeted him with signs saying "Welcome home Bryce." Neighbors also placed yellow ribbons along the street leading up to the house.

Neighbor and family friend Kim Stamerjohn said it was done "because we care about them; because they're good people; because this family didn't deserve this, and it'll be proven."

"He's a good kid," Stamerjohn said. "He made some bad choices, but he's a good kid, and he didn't do anything wrong."

Reed was a paramedic in West, the Central Texas town where an explosion at a fertilizer plant killed 15 and injured hundreds in April.

Earlier this month, the McLennan County district attorney said that a Texas Rangers investigation found no evidence linking Reed to the blast. District Attorney Abel Reyna also told the Waco Tribune-Herald that he still had more material to review.

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

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