Police arrest Arlington Heights man caught with pipe bomb in backpack

A 20-year-old Arlington Heights man caught with a pipe bomb in his backpack had been carrying the explosive device around for two years, Wheeling Police said Monday.

Police initially stopped Ryan P. Barton, of the 2600 block of North Stratford Road, around 12:40 a.m. Nov. 19 as he was walking along the 700 block of westbound Hintz Road on suspicion that he may have been involved in a series of car burglaries in the area.

An officer on special patrol asked to see Barton's backpack, which he voluntarily opened. The officer found a pipe bomb in the backpack. He placed the backpack on the ground and called the Cook County bomb squad for assistance, Wheeling Police Chief Bill Benson said.

The bomb contained 51 grams of an unknown explosive powder and metal ball bearings. It was safely disabled by the bomb squad, Benson said.

The westbound outer lane of Hintz Road was temporarily closed while the pipe bomb was disabled, and Lexington Health Care employees were advised to stay inside, police said.

Barton gave a statement to police saying he had been carrying the bomb around for the past two years, Benson said.

“He offered no explanation as to why it was initially made or why he was carrying it in that fashion in his backpack,” Benson said. “We are very fortunate. This could have had a tragic ending. We're just very appreciative of the Cook County bomb squad for coming out expeditiously and rendering it safe, and fortunately nobody was hurt.”

Barton is charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon/possession of an explosive device, which carries a penalty of up to a $25,000 fine and/or two to five years in prison.

Barton's bond was set at $60,000. His next court date is 1:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in room 108 of the Rolling Meadows courthouse.

Benson said Barton was not implicated in the car burglaries that occurred off Hintz Road. Police have arrested the culprits, who had been involved in eight of the burglaries, he said.