Iroquois County authorities arrest Onarga man with suspected bomb

Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police report a traffic stop overnight ended with an arrest. In a press release, deputies say they stopped a car in Onarga for having a suspended registration. During the stop, it was found a passenger in the car, identified as 39-year-old James R. Nelson of Onarga, had an active warrant out for his arrest. Nelson allegedly refused to get out of the car when told to do so by police and instead grabbed something out of the back seat of the car, told officers it was a bomb and ran with the object into a nearby home. Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police, along with officers from the East Central Illinois Bomb Squad and the Kankakee County Emergency Response Team entered the home and found Nelson hiding in the attic. After taking Nelson into custody, officers searched the home and say they found the item Nelson claimed was a bomb was indeed an explosive device, which was ultimately disarmed. As of early this morning, Nelson was hospitalized for injuries sustained during his arrest. Upon release he’ll face charges of possession of explosives or explosive or incendiary devises and aggravated battery to a police office.