×

TENSE TIME

Bomb squad called to municipal court to investigate suspicious package

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times The Columbus Bomb Squad arrives at Marietta Municipal Court Thursday to assess the suspicious package found in a backpack in the probation office.

 

A suspicious package found in a backpack impounded at the Marietta Municipal Court Thursday will be blown up off-site by the Columbus Bomb Squad, according to the court’s judge.

Meanwhile, during a search of the home of the backpack’s owner, law enforcement found several other bomb making materials and detonators.

The court building was evacuated and closed Thursday after the package was found but the scene was cleared hours later.

“The materials were found as a result of the probation department doing their job… they were doing house checks (Wednesday) and placed a probation holder on (Daniel) Buchman,” said Judge Janet Dyar Welch.

Safety-Service Director Jonathan Hupp said due to the probation hold Wednesday taking place after business hours, the personal backpack of Daniel Lindsey Buchman, 33, of 106 Sunset Drive, Marietta, was impounded in Marietta Municipal Court’s probation office.

Buchman had been arrested at his residence by Probation Officer Patrick Brockmeier and processed into the Washington County Jail on Wednesday at 5:38 p.m. after the probation office received a call of a disturbance at Buchman’s home.

His backpack was not searched by probation until Thursday morning at 10  when what is believed to be a bomb was found. Local law enforcement was then called.

“We sent one of our ex-military guys down to take a look at it and he told the Marietta Police Department to call in the Franklin County bomb squad,” said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.

Marietta Police Capt. Aaron Nedeff said MPD responded by evacuating the building and setting up a preliminary perimeter around the court while the package was assessed by the Marietta Fire Department’s hazardous material officials.

“Once we determined that it was not an immediate HAZMAT threat we turned over the scene to MPD,” said Fire Chief C.W. Durham.

Nedeff further explained that Mike Beckett and his bomb-sniffing dog from Parkersburg had indicated the package needed further attention from the bomb techs from the Columbus squad.

Officers from MPD, MFD and the probation office also searched Buchman’s home and located items indicating the intention of a bomb, including a possible trigger or detonation switch found in plain sight, said Durham.

Hupp said the agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also were present to search the home of Buchman Thursday.

“(When) Columbus fire bomb technicians arrived and examined the items (they) also contacted the state fire marshal,” said Nedeff in a release Thursday night.

Rick Harding, of the Columbus Bomb Squad, said his dogs and officers planned to go room to room in both the court and the home to check for any further materials.

“And if we suspect something, we back off and wait until the bomb techs clear it,” he explained. “We don’t know if there’s a booby trap or any other danger in that kind of situation so we go through very slowly and methodically. It’s up to the police officers to look for bodies and make sure no one is going to shoot, then we assess the scene and make sure nothing will blow up and everyone is safe.”

“Columbus fire and the state fire marshal tested and rendered objects at both locations safe. It was confirmed there were completed explosive devices at both locations,” said Nedeff. “Investigators also identified and seized a significant amount of materials for making explosive devices. The state fire marshal has taken custody of the explosives and the matter is under investigation by both their office and Marietta Police. Charges have not been filed at this time but the suspect is currently in custody and incarcerated on other charges.”

Welch emphasized in a statement after the courthouse was cleared of danger around 2:30 p.m. that the materials found did not appear to be linked to a direct threat to the Municipal Court.

“I’m glad it came to light but there was no stated target,” she said. “I’m glad that thanks to the probation officers doing their jobs and then the hard work of all of the agencies involved today that nothing tragic happened. Who knows what the plan for those materials was, but it could have been far more tragic.”

Buchman was on probation for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in May 2015.

Timeline of events

¯ Wednesday – Daniel Lindsey Buchman, 33, of 106 Sunset Drive, Marietta, was arrested at his residence by Probation Officer Patrick Brockmeier and processed into the Washington County Jail on Thursday at 5:38 p.m. for a violation of his probation.

Thursday:

¯ 10 a.m. – A suspicious package was found in Buchman’s backpack at the probation office in Marietta Municipal Court.

¯ Marietta Fire Department’s HAZMAT team and a Parkersburg bomb-sniffing dog checked the package while the Marietta Police Department, Marietta Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter on the 200 block of Butler street and closed the parking lot of the court.

¯ 11:15 a.m. – MPD, MFD and probation officers checked Buchman’s home for bomb-making materials.

¯ 12:45 p.m. – Columbus Bomb Squad arrived at Municipal Court. After sweeping the court, they moved to Buchman’s home.

¯ 2:30 p.m. – Marietta Municipal Court scene cleared.

Source: Times research.

 

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today