Burlington man facing federal charges for possessing explosives discovered at police department
A Burlington man accused of possessing homemade bombs discovered in his backpack while in custody at the Burlington Police Department is now facing federal charges.
Aaron Drake Jenkins, 38, faces a federal charge of possession of unregistered destructive devices after his Nov. 3 arrest by Burlington police.
While responding to a home in the 1300 block of North Sixth Street, officers spoke with a man who said a man alleged to be Jenkins was walking through his yard, was told to leave, starting yelling at the man and asking "various nonsensical questions," like where the man went to church, according to a federal criminal complaint. The North Sixth Street resident said Jenkins then charged at him like he was going to attack before running away from the scene.
When officers found Jenkins at a nearby cemetery, he was yelling "nonsensical statements and questions" at them, saying that "Armageddon was imminent," "everyone is going to die," and making various statements about religion and "Jesus Christ," according to the complaint.
Police searched Jenkins at the scene, and said they found a knife in his shoe, a slingshot he was carrying over his arm and his backpack.
As he was handing his backpack to officers, he said "here are my weapons," according to the complaint.
Officers transported Jenkins to the Burlington police station, searched his backpack and discovered three metal pipes containing fuses and black powder later determined to be explosive by the Iowa State Crime Lab.
The State Fire Marshal's Division was called to inspect the bag and devices. It was determined that "each device was an explosive, incendiary, bomb," according to the complaint. None of the three devices were registered to the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, the complaint states.
On Nov. 4, police searched Jenkins' home and found materials similar to the explosive devices discovered the day before, the complaint states.
Jenkins initially was charged in Des Moines County with three counts of unauthorized possession of offensive weapons, a class D felony, and three counts of interference with official acts resulting in injury, a serious misdemeanor.
On Jan. 21, those charges were dismissed after the federal charge was filed and Jenkins was taken into federal custody.
He is being held at the Muscatine County jail. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport.
Jenkins made his first appearance in federal court Wednesday, waiving his right to a preliminary and detention hearing. He will remain in federal custody while awaiting trial.
Jenkins is being represented by federal public defender Terence McAtee of Davenport.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Burlington man charged in federal court for possessing explosives
