Military-grade explosive found in car driven by ‘sovereign citizens,’ CA cops say
Three “sovereign citizens” were arrested after a military-grade explosive device was discovered in a vehicle two were driving in, California police said.
Deputies pulled over a white Ford Taurus for “vehicle code violations” around 10:09 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, in Yucca Valley, the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
The 46-year-old and 50-year-old men told the deputies they were “sovereign citizens.”
Authorities found live ammunition, black gunpowder and an improvised military-grade explosive device in the car.
Neither of the men were allowed to posses firearms, deputies said. A bomb team disposed of the device, deputies said.
Authorities also learned there were more explosive devices on their property, according to the release.
After serving a search warrant in a “remote sovereign citizen compound” in Johnson Valley, deputies found more military-grade explosives, ammunition and firearms.
A 54-year-old woman was arrested at the compound.
All three people were arrested on charges of possession of destructive devices or explosives and possession of a controlled substance while armed.
They are being held without bail.
Johnson Valley is about 40 miles northwest of Joshua Tree National Park.
This story was originally published June 20, 2022 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Military-grade explosive found in car driven by ‘sovereign citizens,’ CA cops say."
