Tulsa man arrested in Bixby blast
A 28-year-old Tulsa man was locked up in connection with an explosion less than 24 hours after a bomb was detonated late Monday outside of an unoccupied Air Force recruitment office in Bixby.
Benjamin Roden is on a federal hold in the Tulsa jail, U.S. Deputy Marshal Jeff Johnston confirmed with the Tulsa World on Tuesday evening. Roden is being held without bond.
The FBI is leading the investigation and made the apprehension in tandem with the Tulsa Police Department. The U.S. Marshals weren’t involved in this case but do handle transportation of federal prisoners for court dates, Johnston said.
Investigators had detained a man as a person of interest Tuesday afternoon — whom the FBI declined to identify — at the Sand Dollar apartment complex near 61st and Riverside Drive.
The explosive device, a pipe bomb, was detonated about 10:30 p.m. Monday at an Air Force recruiting center in Post Rock Plaza near 104th Street and Memorial Drive in Bixby.
Federal agents are investigating the possibility that the placement and detonation of the bomb was an incident of domestic terrorism. However, FBI spokeswoman Jessi Rice said federal agents had reached "no conclusion" on the intent and weren't calling it an act of domestic terrorism.
Bixby and Tulsa police responded to the explosion. The FBI, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is heading the investigation.
Rice said the FBI will make a determination whether the act was domestic terrorism, which she defined as "any act of extremism that supports a religious belief, a political belief, a radical belief ... something that instills fear in the American citizens and the government."
Rice said federal charges the suspect might face depend on the results of the investigation.
"Potentially, we're looking at weapons of mass destruction charges, explosive devices charges," she said, "So it depends on what route it goes, whether it's terrorism or criminal related, that will determine what kind of charges will be pressed."
Special agents also are investigating whether connection exists between a report of vandalism at another recruitment office within walking distance of the bomb site.
"It's suspicious," Rice said. "There's no known connection. But it's quite ironic that that happened."
Two Tulsa Police Bomb Squad robots at the Sand Dollar apartments were visible from Riverside Drive on Tuesday afternoon. A large section of the complex was cordoned off. A Tulsa Police spokesman said authorities had no reason to believe a live device was at the complex but were taking the necessary precautions.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Kathryn Peterson told reporters during a 5 p.m. news conference near the complex that there is any risk to the population at large, "although we're taking every precaution to ensure that."
Crime-scene tape roped off the parking lot and area around the Air Force recruiting office and neighboring businesses throughout Monday night.
One of two front doors was off its hinges Tuesday morning and lying in a parking spot. Airmen boarded up the opening about 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The amount of damage inside the building wasn’t apparent. No injuries were reported.
A black blast pattern marked the ground and bottom of the remaining door, and an LED light ballast dangled from its wires on the building facade.
A glass company replaced the door before noon.
Those with information about the incident may contact the Oklahoma City office for the FBI at 405-290-7770.