SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A search of a social media expert’s
apartment in San Francisco turned up ball bearings, screws and
components needed to make a homemade bomb designed to kill or maim, the
FBI said in an affidavit unsealed Tuesday.
Investigators said they
found the materials inside a bag at the apartment of Ryan Kelly
Chamberlain during a search over the weekend. The discovery prompted a
manhunt for the 42-year-old Chamberlain that ended with his arrest
Monday in San Francisco.
The bag also contained a circuit board,
screw top glass jar with batteries, a wire and a powdery green substance
believed to be explosive material, FBI Special Agent Michael Eldridge
said in the document.
"FBI bomb technicians believe that the
circuit board described above was designed to serve as a remote control,
allowing detonation of the device from afar," Eldridge said. "They
further believe that the device was designed to maim or kill a human
being or human beings."
The FBI has not said what, if any,
specific plans Chamberlain might have had for the device, or how they
were alerted to the material.
Though Chamberlain was considered
armed and dangerous, FBI spokesman Peter Lee reiterated Tuesday that he
did not seem to pose an immediate threat to public safety.
Chamberlain
appeared in federal court Tuesday after being charged with one count of
possession of an illegal destructive device. He was accompanied by a
public defender and did not enter a plea. He had on the same shorts and
sweatshirt when police arrested him near the Golden Gate Bridge.
On Saturday, as authorities arrived to search the apartment, they spotted Chamberlain and a woman leave
and drive away.
Chamberlain
returned on foot about 30 minutes later, when Eldridge said he
identified himself and asked if they could talk in a nearby coffee shop.
After a short discussion, Chamberlain asked if he could leave, and
Eldridge said he could, the document states.
Authorities tried to
follow him as he drove off but decided to pull back when he began
speeding and running lights, Eldridge said. Authorities then searched
the apartment and found the bomb materials.
"There were particular
items that were found when we executed the search warrant that caused
us great concern, concern for the public’s safety in the event he
decided to use those in such a fashion," FBI Special Agent in Charge
David Johnson said. "It was going to be a significant problem."
Chamberlain
was arrested by police officers who responded to a report that a person
matching Chamberlain’s description had been spotted, Police Chief Greg
Suhr said.
Chamberlain had spotted the officers and was taken into
custody after a brief chase and struggle, Suhr said. He described
Chamberlain as someone who was in crisis and getting "more desperate by
the moment."
Morgan Manos, who saw the arrest, captured it on
video and sold it to TV stations, told reporters at the scene that
Chamberlain looked surprised and frantic.
"They took him down hard," Manos said.
Alex
Clemens, a partner of the San Francisco-based Barbary Coast Consulting,
said Chamberlain is well known in city political circles and had been a
fixture on the campaign trails for more than a decade. His work ended
in the field several years ago.
Clemens, who briefly hired Chamberlain in 2009 for a project, said people who know Chamberlain are
stunned.
"I
believe there’s been a failure in his support system. I’m sad for
that," Clemens said. "I hope he will reach out to those who will help
him."