Ohio Man Accused Of Dropping Destructive Devices Onto Barges

An Ohio man is facing federal charges after suspected destructive devices were found on Ohio River tugboats, authorities said.

Nathaniel Blayn Becker, 42, of Marietta, Ohio, was charged Thursday in a federal criminal complaint with possession of one or more unregistered destructive devices. Federal prosecutors said Becker was arrested Wednesday in Marietta.

Becker is accused of buying pipes and other components of the devices from a Lowe’s store on four occasions. Law enforcement officers recovered suspected destructive devices from two tugboats on Monday and on Oct. 21. Authorities believe the devices were dropped from a bridge, the complaint said.

Authorities traced the devices’ components to a Marietta Lowe’s store and were able to identify the suspect’s vehicle through surveillance video, the complaint said. Police spotted Becker’s SUV near the same store and arrested him.

Becker was being held without bond in a Charleston jail. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on the charge.