A 45-year-old Hillsboro man was arrested Tuesday afternoon (May 11) after a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy allegedly found two pipe bombs in an SUV the man was driving. At about 2:45 p.m., a deputy stopped the 2004 Suzuki at Jarvis Road near Old Hwy. 21 north of Hillsboro because the license plates were expired, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The SUV was equipped with emergency lights, and investigators also found a bail bondsman badge, a bullet-resistant vest, handcuffs and a powder substance believed to be illegal drugs in the SUV, Sheriff Dave Marshak said on his Twitter account today (May 12).
The Sheriff’s Office did not know why the man had the items in the SUV or why the vehicle had emergency lights, spokesman Grant Bissell said.
Bissell also said the driver did not have a felony criminal record, and it did not appear the man intended to use the pipe bombs to harm anyone. However, the man was wanted on a warrant for an unrelated misdemeanor traffic violation, so he was arrested.
The man was still in custody today because of the warrant and could face additional charges as the investigation continues, Bissell said.
After the pipe bombs reportedly were found in the SUV, the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis County Police Bomb and Arson Unit were called to investigate the devices. Members of the Bomb and Arson Unit removed the devices and safely detonated them at the department’s range, a St. Louis County Police spokeswoman said.