GREENWOOD, Ind. — An Indianapolis man has been charged in Johnson County for planning an act of domestic terrorism in Greenwood.
On August 15, Greenwood police noticed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Greenwood Park Mall where numerous thefts had been reported. Police followed the vehicle driven by Christopher Byrne, 31, onto U.S. 31 and initiated a traffic stop. Byrne told the officer he was a sovereign national and refused to provide identification. A BMV check revealed Byrne was a convicted habitual traffic offender and was arrested.
During a search of the vehicle, police found a Ruger 10-22 rifle with a scope and homemade suppressor attached, plus 100 rounds of ammunition. Within reach of the driver police, found water bottles filled with bleach and ammonia. The bomb squad determined the two chemicals had not yet been combined to make a poisonous gas.
In August 2015, Byrne was convicted in Marion County of stealing items from police cars. One of the items was an AR-15 taken from a Greenwood policeman’s car in October 2014.
At the time of the traffic stop Byrne was facing additional Johnson County charges for carrying a handgun without a license, and driving as a habitual traffic offender. Judge Cynthia Emkes has revoked bail for those charges and set his bond for the current charges at $1 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case for possible federal charges.
The Greenwood Police Department was assisted by agents from the ATF.
