Police stop possible explosive attack
Officers from several different law enforcement agencies worked through the weekend to apprehend a Franklin County man found to be in possession of multiple explosives, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.
William Ray Hines, 42, 19118 U.S. 43, Russellville, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with 12 counts of possession and manufacturing of explosive materials, Oliver said.
After realizing he was out of town on business, officers with the Virginia State Police, the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshall’s Service were able to apprehend Hines, who is a long-haul truck driver, at a truck stop on Interstate 81 in Virginia about 30 miles north of the Tennessee state line.
According to Oliver, officers received a tip that Hines was storing explosive materials at his residence and that he could be planning to use them to harm members of the community.
After receiving the tip, Oliver said investigators secured and executed a search warrant on Friday afternoon at Hines’ residence where officers discovered 12 pineapple-type grenades, 100 feet of cannon wire, a large quantity of ammunition and assault magazines for firearms, two smoke grenades and other various explosive materials.
Warrants for Hines arrest were issued after the arsenal of explosive material was discovered by officers with the FCSD; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Florence Police Department’s bomb squad; the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office; The Franklin County DA’s Office and other local law enforcement.
Authorities said Hines had been making threats to use the explosives to harm people in the area and he posed a serious threat to the community.
“This could have been a very dangerous or even fatal situation if these officers hadn’t come together to locate Mr. Hines,” Oliver said. “We’re thankful he is now in custody and the explosives have been removed from his possession.”
Hines is in the custody of the Virginia State Police awaiting extradition back to Franklin County.
According to Oliver, Hines waived his extradition and sheriff’s deputies will leave Tuesday morning to pick him up.
Oliver said Hines should be back in Franklin County by Wednesday.
The case is still ongoing, and investigators said other charges could arise later in the week.
