CINCINNATI — The FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested James River Phillips, 20, of Mason, Ohio, Thursday, charging him with possessing an unregistered destructive device.

What You Need To Know

  • The FBI has arrested a man from Mason, Ohio for posessing an unregistered destructive device

  • He is alleged to have had in his possession an IED that was found at an outdoor sports complex last year

  • The bomb squad retrieved the device and tested it

“The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested James River Phillips after he allegedly possessed a dangerous destructive device,” FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola said in a press release. “The FBI and our partners worked together to ensure his actions were stopped before there was any risk to public safety.”

A criminal complaint says it is believed that Phillips had an IED (improvised explosive device) in his possession that had been discovered at “an outdoor sports complex” by an officer with the Lebanon Police Department on Sept. 22 last year.

The Butler County Bomb squad retrieved the device and tested its components, according to the FBI.

“Charging documents detail that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was able to identify Phillips as the primary suspect who left the device at the sports complex,” the release reads. “The JTTF has also been able to connect Phillips to other incidents where he is alleged to have possessed and detonated potential explosives.”

The following organizations are assisting the FBI in this case:

  • Lebanon Police Department
  • Warren County Sheriff’s Office
  • Butler County Sheriff’s Office
  • Mason Police Department
  • Oxford Police Department
  • Ohio State Highway Patrol
  • Dayton Police Department
  • The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives

“A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law,” the release reads.