10:59 AM: A man charged with possessing bomb-making materials in his San Francisco apartment had the pieces necessary to build an improvised explosive device, FBI and police officials said today.
Details of the case against Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II, 42, were released at a news conference this morning.
Chamberlain was then brought before a federal magistrate in San Francisco and was charged with one count of illegal possession of a destructive device.
Chamberlain was told of the federal charge at his initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Nathaniel Cousins, who scheduled a detention hearing at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and ordered Chamberlain held in custody until then.
The magistrate also scheduled a status conference in the case for 11 a.m. Wednesday.
FBI Special Agent in Charge David Johnson said authorities had served a search warrant at Chamberlain’s home near Polk and Jackson streets in the city’s Nob Hill neighborhood on Saturday and found alleged explosive materials there.
A nationwide manhunt ensued for Chamberlain, who on Monday posted what appeared to be a suicide note on social media detailing his struggles with depression and trouble with family and work.
Chamberlain was then arrested near Crissy Field in San Francisco at about 6:30 p.m. Monday after a tip from a member of the public and an electronic record of an ATM withdrawal from a San Francisco bar led police to the suspect in his car, FBI officials said.
San Francisco police Chief Greg Suhr praised the public for their help in locating Chamberlain.
“The system worked in this case and we got someone off the street before he hurt himself or someone else,” Suhr said.
“Unbelievable police work, unbelievable collaboration with our federal partners to get somebody who was absolutely growing more desperate by the moment, in crisis,” he said.
FBI officials said that the alleged bomb-making materials found in Chamberlain’s apartment Saturday have been sent to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., for further examination, but they confirmed that, if put together, the materials had the potential to be an improvised explosive device, or IED.
Johnson said the device would have caused significant damage had the parts been put together.
Authorities admitted that they were surprised that Chamberlain remained in San Francisco given that he was the subject of a nationwide manhunt.
FBI officials confirmed that a man fitting Chamberlain’s description was seen using an ATM at the bar Mad Dog in the Fog, located at 530 Haight St., between 2 and 3 p.m. Monday and then stayed at the bar for a while before heading to Crissy Field, where he was eventually captured by police.
Chamberlain has worked in public relations and on many local political campaigns in the past 15 years, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s when he ran for mayor in San Francisco.
Suhr at this morning’s news conference made a plea to the public to alert authorities if they suspect someone is in crisis.
“If anyone knows anybody who is in crisis or is in a dark place, please report that to us, we have more resources in San Francisco than maybe anywhere else to help somebody in crisis before they harm themselves or others. If you think it’s coming, please tell us now.” Suhr said.
Joan Dentler/Julia Cheever, Bay City News
9:15 AM: San Francisco police and FBI officials today announced the details of the arrest Monday of a “dangerous and desperate” man who was sought after investigators found alleged explosive materials in his home over the weekend.
Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II, 42, was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. Monday near San Francisco’s Crissy Field, FBI Special Agent in Charge David Johnson said at a news conference this morning.
Authorities had served a search warrant at Chamberlain’s home near Polk and Jackson streets in the city’s Nob Hill neighborhood on Saturday and found alleged explosive materials there, Johnson said.
A nationwide manhunt ensued for Chamberlain, who posted what appeared to be a suicide note on social media earlier Monday, detailing his struggles with depression and trouble with family and work.
“This was a very dangerous and desperate person, I think you can tell from Facebook and social media posts attributed to him yesterday,” San Francisco police Chief Greg Suhr said.
Suhr said officers received a report on Monday evening from a citizen who spotted someone they believed to be Chamberlain.
Officers spotted him near Crissy Field and were able to take him into custody after a brief foot pursuit, Suhr said.
Johnson from the FBI said “the public came through” with hundreds of tips from the Bay Area and nationwide about Chamberlain’s whereabouts.
“The public played a critical role in this arrest,” he said.
He said with Chamberlain’s arrest, “We think any threat to public safety has been mitigated in this case.”
Johnson said the initial investigation began after the FBI was told that Chamberlain “had items of great concern to us, and some of that was corroborated when we searched his residence.”
Johnson did not say what exactly was in the home, citing the ongoing investigation.
He said Chamberlain is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court later today.
Chamberlain has worked in public relations and on many local political campaigns in the past 15 years, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s when he ran for mayor in San Francisco.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
