Arrest Made in Mabelvale for Illegal Possession of Explosive Material

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced that Michael, S. Parker, age 52, of Mabelvale, Arkansas, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate J. Thomas Ray on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and explosive material. Parker was detained following his initial appearance. His indictment will be presented at the next session of the grand jury.

The affidavit supporting the complaint states that probable cause existed to conduct a search warrant at an address in Mabelvale, Arkansas. The search warrant was executed by 30 law enforcement officers on September 19, 2012, from multiple state and local law enforcement agencies, including a bomb squad from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) and bomb detection K-9s from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The search resulted in the seizure of a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, one stick of military grade dynamite, and 14 one-pound high-explosive slurries. A slurry is a commercially available all-purpose, weather-resistant emulsion explosive. The complaint alleges that Parker had previous felony methamphetamine-related convictions. As a felon, it is illegal for Parker to possess firearms or explosives.

“It is a relief to this office, those involved in the search, and now the neighbors of the Mabelvale community that these extremely explosive devices were recovered,” stated Thyer. “Just one pound of slurry could destroy a vehicle and everyone in it. The potential damage from the explosion of 14 of these would have been devastating.”

A complaint contains only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted by agents from ATF. The search warrant was executed by ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas State Police, and officers from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Givens and Stephanie Mazzanti are prosecuting the case for the United States.