Officials say explosives were found on Ohio River tugboats, leading to a federal charge against an Ohio man.
A federal criminal complaint filed Thursday against Nathaniel Blayn Becker, 42, of Marietta, Ohio, alleges the possession of one or more unregistered destructive devices. According to federal authorities, Becker was arrested in Marietta on Wednesday.
In four separate transactions, Becker is alleged to have purchased pipes and other parts of the devices from Lowe’s. In the course of the last week, law enforcement officers located suspected destructive devices aboard two tugboats. The complaint says the devices were dropped from a bridge.
A surveillance video of the suspect’s vehicle allowed authorities to identify the suspect’s vehicle, according to the complaint. Becker was arrested after officers spotted his SUV near the same store.
He was held without bond after being arrested.
The Portsmouth Connection
During the same time as the other tugboats found devices, a barge noticed a suspicious object and moored at the Portsmouth riverfront.
Portsmouth Police responded along with local Marine 1. In short order, they were joined by the KSP bomb squad and the ATF.
Portsmouth Police escorted the KSP and ATF to the river landing to join Marine 1 for the inspection.
Ultimately, the vessel was cleared and traveled on.