Bomb Materials Found on Air Guard Base

Tools

Bomb Materials Found on Air Guard Base

By WEEK Producer

A routine car check at the Illinois Air National Guard Base in Bartonville turns up weapons materials. Peoria County police say it was more a case of bad judgment than a threat to national security.

Police arrested Robert Colgin on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of weapons. The 20–year–old Pekin man is accused of having two plastic bottles stuffed with aluminum and drain cleaner in the trunk of his car when he tried to drive onto the Airbase in Bartonville this weekend. The materials are ingredients for a homemade bomb.

Police say Robert Colgin admitted using the elements with friends for illegal activities, but had forgotten the materials were in his trunk. Captain Dave Briggs says the man just made a poor error in judgment. "I don't think there was any intent on his part to do any damage or mischief to that guard base. He shouldn't have had the materials with him. He shouldn't have had the materials with on the guard base. Obviously he had the materials with him earlier when he and some friends were doing some things they probably shouldn't have been doing."

The 182nd Airlift Wing has yet to return News 25's calls for comment. But Captain Briggs says Colgin did have a reason to be on the Air Guard Base on Saturday, although he was a civilian at the time. Colgin has posted bond, which was set at a thousand dollars. He is due back in court next month.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 7:47 AM AA wrote ...

The News also make it sound like he wasn't supposed to be going on base...he was going to guard duty. The News also states this is a 'bomb', which in fact science teachers are the ones that show kids in school how to make them to show the chemical reaction and does nothing more than make a Poof sound. I'm not saying that he shouldn't take responsibility or that it isn't a serious matter, we are taking this Very seriously...

Thursday, Aug 7 at 7:46 AM AA wrote ...

They also don't tell you the reason he 'forgot' it was in there was because it was buried under all the other garbage and clothes etc..he had in his trunk . He is a typical young adult that doesn't do very well cleaning up. The News also make it sound like he wasn't supposed to be going on base...he was going to guard duty.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 7:44 AM AA wrote ...

I understand everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just want the truth to be told about him and not what the 'news' says their 'truth' is, the news tells people the interesting part of the story to get people to listen, they don't tell what all the facts are.... Yes he did have it in his trunk, but he never used it for illegal activity, no more so than people using fireworks on the fourth of July.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 3:45 PM One question... wrote ...

Is bomb making material something you can just FORGET you have? Particularly when entering a military facility? LIke who isn't aware of the VIGILANT focus on safety and bombs and national security....

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 12:16 PM Come On? wrote ...

It is a shame that you make a mistake and you get your picture plastered all over the news. He was just a young kid who made a mistake. Probably made a homemade firecracker around the 4th of July and forget it was in his car. Yeah he should get in trouble, but come on people make him a terriost before they even have all the facts. That is the problem with media and with todays world - and 99%the time they don't even have all the facts. I hope I am never in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 11:51 AM TH wrote ...

What a disservice this story has done! None of the materials he had are illegal or bomb materials. He was to report there for work, not going there with the intention of doing anything else. Likely your car could be searched after a trip to the store and you would have elements when mixed together would create a reaction.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 11:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Why is this even a news story worth mentioning? No harm was done, no intent for harm was evident, safeguards caught the contraban, and the proper actions were taken. Sounds like everything went as it should have- no news there.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 10:36 AM kid wrote ...

This was just some punk kid who wasn't even a member of the unit. He was trying to enlist.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 9:52 AM Jim wrote ...

If you've ever witnessed these aluminum foil - drano "bombs", the only potential they have is to spray drano everywhere. I wouldn't really even call it a bomb, but more so a possibly dangerous noise maker. That's about all they're good for is making noise.

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 9:36 AM JC wrote ...

So correct me if I'm wrong, the article state that we let a civilian onto the Air Guard base. This man had 2 bombs in the back of the car, is the guard member who was working the gates next job boarder patrol in Texas?

Wednesday, Aug 6 at 12:27 AM SK wrote ...

WE ARE NOT EVEN SAFE WITH SOME OF OUR OWN...WHAT A SHAME......

Tuesday, Aug 5 at 7:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

too bad this happened at the AIR guard....we dont have helicopters

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WEEK News 25 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Stock Quotes

What's On TonightFull Schedule

6:00
Football Night in America
7:15
Sunday Night Football-Indianapolis
Local Business Dir

Poll

Will You Be Hunting During Deer & Firearm Season this Weekend?

  • Yes
  • No