Man charged in local bomb incident

Staff/Sheriff’s Department information

A Bryan man has been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, in connection with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found at a residence on Zook Road in Pleasant Township two weekends ago.

Ronald G. McBride, 42, was arrested last Friday following an investigation by county detectives and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

According to Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens, deputies responded to a report of an explosion in the Zook Road area on Sunday, September 16. When deputies arrived, they found four IEDs had bee thrown into a yard at the residence and that one of the devices had exploded.

Deputies, along with members of the Allen County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad, safely disarmed the remaining three explosive devices.

Sheriff Owens said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming at both the local and federal levels.