Ohio
Ohio man arrested after investigators discover IED, videos, photos of bomb-making materials
A Mason, Ohio, man was arrested for allegedly possessing a destructive device after an investigation into an improvised explosive device (IED) found at a soccer complex led to the discovery of bomb-making materials.
James River Phillips, 20, was arrested Thursday by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and charged with possession of an unregistered gun and possession of a destructive device.
The arrest comes after the task force conducted a federal court-ordered search in Mason that morning.
“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. “The FBI and our partners worked together to ensure his actions were stopped before there was any risk to public safety.”
BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS FOUND AT NEW ORLEANS AIRBNB POTENTIALLY TIED TO BOURBON STREET TERRORIST: FBI
An Ohio man is accused of possessing an unregistered destructive device after an investigation was conducted by the FBI and local police. The photos show an IED, a detonator and what is believed to be explosive white powder. (Federal Affidavit)
According to an affidavit filed against Phillips, a Lebanon, Ohio, police officer discovered an IED at a soccer complex at about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 22, 2024.
Just before the discovery, the officer saw two men in their early 20s leaving the parking lot of the complex in a silver SUV, which was originally parked in the lot. The driver was described by police as having long curly hair.
The officer made a traffic stop and told the two men to leave the parking lot since the complex was closed, the affidavit noted.
FBI CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR JAN. 6 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT 3 YEARS AFTER US CAPITOL RIOT, OFFERS $500K REWARD
Once the two men left, the officer continued to drive in the parking lot and located an IED where the SUV had been parked, court documents allege.
“The IED had wires running from a pile of white powder to a control switch,” the affidavit states. “The control switch had a red light on when the LPD Officer discovered the IED. After encountering the device, the LPD Officer attempted to locate the two males but could not. The officer contacted Butler County Bomb Squad (BCBS) to seize the IED.”
BCBS discovered that the residue on the device contained nickel hydrazine nitrate, while the white powder contained erythritol tetranitrate.
FBI RELEASES VIDEO SHOWING JANUARY 2021 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT PLANTING DEVICE OUTSIDE DNS, RNC OFFICES IN DC
Photos recovered from iCloud appear to show Phillips was making explosive devices in the shed. There were three photos found in Phillips’ iCloud account taken Feb. 26, 2024, that appear to show an explosive device that was built in the shed. (Federal Affidavit)
As they tested the IED detonator, it exploded, breaking the handheld chemical identification device.
With the FBI’s help, investigators used cellular data to track Phillips’ phone to the parking lot between 12:15 a.m. and 12:21 a.m. The same phone allegedly sent two texts shortly after the SUV encountered police, one at 12:36 a.m. and the other at 12:40 a.m.
On Dec. 2, 2024, Phillips reportedly got a driver’s license photo, which the affidavit said shows him with the same curly hair the officer saw when he encountered the driver.
Investigators executed a search warrant on the Apple iCloud account associated with the phone, which resulted in a video from April 5, 2024, showing two unidentified men in a parking lot under streetlights, near portable restrooms and a soccer net.
One of the men could be heard counting down to one, before an explosive device detonated. In another video appearing to be from the same incident, an unidentified man says, “James, we gotta go,” and “James, come on.”
FBI FOUND 150 BOMBS AT VIRGINIA HOME IN DECEMBER, PROSECUTORS SAY
Interior photos of the shed recovered from iCloud appear to show the shed contains running electricity, racks for glass beakers, heated magnetic mixers and unknown chemicals and powders. (Federal Affidavit)
The video then shows a hole in the ground, which investigators say was the result of the previous explosion. The two men are then seen picking up the debris and leftover components. GPS data from the metadata of the video shows the video was shot in the parking lot of the same soccer complex in Lebanon, where the police officer encountered the IED months later, the affidavit notes.
Additional photos and videos of explosions were reportedly found on the iCloud account from July 21, 2024, including the destruction of a car.
In one of the videos, investigators wrote, Phillips is seen holding a detonation device as another man counts down from five to one.
“After Phillips presses the detonation device, a large explosion is heard in the distance, and an unidentified male can be heard saying, ‘It blew the car above the tree line,’” the affidavit said. “Additional photos and videos taken on July 21, 2024, show an explosion followed by photos of the destruction of a car that appeared to be destroyed from the explosion.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The investigation later revealed to detectives that Phillips bought “precursor chemicals and materials for homemade explosives,” which were shipped to his home in Mason and another residence of his in Oxford.
His iCloud account also allegedly had recipes and notes on how to construct explosive devices, the affidavit claims.
Photos also allegedly show Phillips constructing explosive devices in a shed in the woods.
Phillips is expected to appear in court Friday for a bond hearing and will remain in custody until then.
Ohio
Matt Patricia Shares Major Health Update Following Neurosurgeon Visit During Ohio State Offseason Break
CINCINNATI (WKRC) — Sixty percent of children in Ohio are not ready for kindergarten when they start school.
Now, a national nonprofit is working to change that by expanding access to books and promoting early literacy across the state.
Sixty percent of children in Ohio are not ready for kindergarten when they start school. (WKRC file)
Nedra Smith has seen the difference firsthand. Her two young daughters receive books through the program at their pediatrician visits at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“They love to read now,” Smith said. “We’ll randomly be out and they’ll see a book and want to read a book.”
Reach Out and Read partners with pediatricians to give children books during regular checkups and encourage parents to read aloud with them. The program has been part of Cincinnati Children’s for more than a decade.
“They typically come in and tell us they got new books,” Smith said. “They typically ask me to read the book right then and there.”
Program leaders say early literacy is increasingly being recognized as an important part of a child’s overall health and development.
“Initially, literacy may not have been in the forefront or seen as a health benefit,” said Kristy High, program manager for Reach Out and Read. “Well-child checks focus on shots, nutrition, and those things; but now we want to focus on those main benefits for the development and milestones when it comes to learning.”
The organization is now working to expand its reach statewide, with a goal of serving children in all 88 Ohio counties.
“We know that those first five years of life are the most critical for brain development,” said Steven Lake, executive director of Reach Out and Read Ohio. “If we can intervene as early as possible, essentially, we reach out at birth; we know we can have the greatest impact.”
Smith encourages other parents to participate in the program and read to their children.
“It’s fun,” Smith said. “It’s actually fun to see them light up, and I think they’ll pass that on to their own kids as well.”
Reach Out and Read also partners with providers in Kentucky and Indiana. You can find a participating provider near you on the organization’s website.
If you are a doctor looking to participate in the program, click here.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 8-6-2
Evening: 7-0-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 9-4-7-0
Evening: 0-6-1-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 1-7-3-7-4
Evening: 9-0-8-8-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
16-19-33-36-38
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 11:15 p.m.
01-03-20-35-46, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
-
Minneapolis, MN4 minutes agoMinneapolis grocery store owner charged in $1 million food assistance fraud
-
Indianapolis, IN10 minutes agoThese vacant school district properties will become affordable housing
-
Pittsburg, PA16 minutes agoMan shot and killed in East Hills
-
Augusta, GA22 minutes agoAugusta factory to produce key component for drugs to fight malaria
-
Washington, D.C28 minutes agoDC weather: Sunny, mild Tuesday; showers return Wednesday
-
Cleveland, OH34 minutes agoGuardians Set Off Alarm Bells for Kwan Yesterday
-
Austin, TX40 minutes agoCancer case highlights gaps in Texas protections for women firefighters
-
Alabama46 minutes agoAlabama House race in Jacksonville area draws a crowded field