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.
