A Mesa man was arrested during a traffic stop Wednesday on suspicion of making pipe bombs, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Jeff Metcalf, 51, who had bomb-making materials in his car, admitted to troopers that he had pipe bombs at his Mesa home as well, but was going to dump them in a body of water, according to DPS.

Troopers who were working as part of a DPS task force found 42 pipe bombs in his home, with enough raw materials to make at least 30 more, the agency said in a press release.

Metcalf was arrested and booked on charges of misconduct involving weapons.

The task force, which includes Phoenix police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, learned about the bombs on Tuesday but didn’t specify how authorities obtained the information.

DPS Director Col. Frank Milstead lauded everyone involved in the multi-agency raid.

“This situation could’ve had tragic consequences had it not been for the excellent work of DPS detectives, our counterparts at Phoenix and Mesa Police along with ATF,” Milstead said in a written statement.

DPS is leading the investigation according to a department spokesman.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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