A 19-year-old Virginia man, Jordan Alexander Sweetman, has been arrested and charged after authorities discovered him with homemade explosives in a stolen vehicle on New Year's Day. Sweetman, a resident of Arlington, faces multiple charges including obstruction of justice, possession of burglary tools, wearing a mask to conceal identity, driving without a license, and manufacturing and possessing explosive materials.
Warren County officials responded to a 911 call reporting a suspicious individual wearing a ski mask throwing items out of a dark Honda with no license plates. Deputies located a vehicle matching the description at a 7-Eleven in Linden, where they apprehended Sweetman, who attempted to flee on foot. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sweetman did not own the vehicle, lacked a valid driver's license, and exhibited signs of mental health issues.
Following his arrest, authorities transported Sweetman to a hospital for a medical evaluation before he faced his initial charges. A subsequent search of the stolen vehicle uncovered items resembling homemade explosives, prompting the involvement of additional resources including the bomb squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Bomb technicians safely removed the explosive devices and conducted a controlled detonation.
Sweetman is currently held without bond at RSW Regional Jail in Warren County. His LinkedIn page indicates that he worked at Joint Base Andrews Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron in Maryland.
On the same day, two other unrelated incidents involving explosive devices occurred. In New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed a truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street, planting explosive devices that were later defused by police. In Las Vegas, Matthew Livelsberger detonated a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in what authorities believe to be a case of suicide involving a combat veteran struggling with PTSD.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact 540-635-7100 or email [email protected].
