Police find ‘explosive materials’ at landscaping company
By Emily Pofahl
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WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin (WISN) — West Allis police and the bomb squad responded to Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping near Rogers and Highway 100 on New Year’s Eve, after receiving a report of a man allegedly making bombs inside the business.
The search led to prosecutors charging Joseph Godlewski with one felony count of possessing an improvised explosive device. Officers searched Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping and found what police say were materials to make bombs.
Body camera footage from that day shows officers searching the property, where they found various powders, fuses, glue sticks, a scale, and disassembled bombs with wicks. Investigators photographed the materials, which an expert on Milwaukee police’s hazardous device unit said were consistent with bomb-making supplies, according to court documents.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Godlewski, was an employee at the business. Court records show that an anonymous individual told police Godlewski “…was making pipe bombs…” at the site, and claimed to have been given a bomb by Godlewski in July 2025. The individual also alleged they saw Godlewski detonate a bomb behind the business that same month.
Godlewski has been charged with felony possession of an improvised explosive device. He is currently out on bond and awaiting his plea and sentencing hearing next month.
Godlewski declined an interview but told 12 News over the phone that he was not making bombs. When asked what he was doing with the materials, he said, “No comment.”
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