Update: W. Virginia Police Say No Explosives Found After I-68 Shutdown

A Google Maps photo shows Bruceton Mills, West Virginia (Google Maps)

West Virginia State Police, after closing down a section of Interstate 68 near the Maryland border, offered more details on the incident on March 27. Reports had indicated that a man threatened to kill President Donald Trump and blow up the Pentagon.

The man was stopped driving more than 130 mph on the interstate, leading to a traffic stop, WDTV reported.

K-9s initially detected explosives, but officials were not able to find any.

State Trooper First Class D. W. Satterfield saw a gray sedan with Missouri plates speeding down the freeway, it was reported.

President Donald Trump speaks with the media after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, on March 24, 2019. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo )

According to the report, the 42-year-old male “appeared to be confused” and made concerning statements to police. From those statements, police believed that there was an explosive device in his car.

The man was detained, and all lanes on I-68 were shut down, according to local reports.

More bomb-sniffing K-9s were deployed to the scene, WDTV reported. They all detected explosive materials in the man’s vehicle.

But the West Virginia State Police’s Explosives Response Team couldn’t find any after a search. The suspect’s vehicle was removed at around 2:30 p.m. on March 27.

The FBI, Secret Service, and ATF were called to the scene and were investigating.

Earlier reports, including one from The Associated Press, indicated that the man made threatening statements about killing President Donald Trump and blowing up the Pentagon building. Reports also indicated that the man had a gun in his car.

I-68 was shut down for more than three hours.

The suspect’s name wasn’t released by police.

Other details were not provided.

According to an earlier statement from the West Virginia State Police: “As a result of the investigation based on a traffic stop that occurred earlier this morning, it had been discovered that threats were made to kill the President of the United States and to blow up the Pentagon. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm and an explosive powder. A 42-year-old male has been detained for questioning. WVSP in conjunction with the FBI and Secret Service are continuing to investigate,” according to WV MetroNews, which added that the interstate was reopened.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of people pulling off at the exit up here confused—asking what’s going on, talking to one another, trying to give each other directions,” Dominion Post reporter Ben Conley told WV MetroNews. “I was just speaking with one lady who was on her way from Kentucky to Ocean City, and she’s just kind of sitting here stranded right now like a lot of folks. ”

Another Recent Threat

An Illinois man got mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling after pleading guilty to making online threats against President Donald Trump.

Joseph Lynn Pickett of Edwardsville was also ordered to spend six months behind bars for the June threats, though he’s already served the time since his arrest last year, according to The Associated Press.

Pickett pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors in October, after authorities said he posted several times online that he wanted to assassinate Trump.

The posts included frequent profanity and detailed death threats. Pickett also taunted federal authorities when he wasn’t immediately arrested.

His co-workers reported the threatening posts to the Secret Service. He was later arrested.

Under terms of his sentencing last week, Pickett also will be on supervised release for three years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.