Probation for Arlington Heights man charged with carrying a pipe bomb

A 21-year-old Arlington Heights man arrested by Wheeling police for carrying a pipe bomb in his backpack, pleaded guilty Wednesday to the Class 4 felony of unlawful use of a weapon.

A Cook County judge sentenced Ryan P. Barton to two years' probation and ordered him to participate in mental health counseling.

Barton was arrested carrying the backpack while walking along the 700 block of westbound Hintz Road in November 2010 because officers suspected he was involved in other crimes. Ultimately, he was not implicated in any other crimes.

Barton voluntarily opened his backpack after an officer asked him to do so. Upon finding the pipe bomb, the officer placed the backpack on the ground and called the Cook County bomb squad whose members disabled the device, which contained 51 grams of an unknown explosive powder and metal ball bearings.

Police said Barton told them he had been carrying the explosive device around for two years. However, he never explained the origins of the device or why he had it, Wheeling police said at the time.