Father of boy in Home Depot scare arrested on weapon charges

A father and son both found themselves in trouble with the law after police executed a search warrant on the home of a 14-year-old boy who police believe attempted to start a fire in Home Depot, according to a search warrant affidavit made public Friday.

Police detained the boy Thursday after surveillance footage suggested he took several chemicals from the plumbing section in Home Depot and placed them in a box inside the store, according to the search warrant affidavit by Santa Fe police Sgt. Chris McCord.

A store employee noticed the chemical mixture “smoking” inside a box in the Home Depot, the affidavit says.

An online search found the chemicals “will combust if mixed together and also release toxic gas,” according to the affidavit.

Santa Fe police Capt. Adam Gallegos on Friday said he believed the boy was being held at the youth detention center.

Police executed a search warrant on the boy’s home and identified the father as Ben Moya, 35, who is a felon, the affidavit says.

While executing the search warrant, police found “in plain view several firearms that [were] manufactured privately,” meaning they were made from firearms parts instead of being purchased.

Police on Friday charged Moya with possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, a fourth-degree felony.