In July of 2018 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Oregon State Police, and the Junction City Police Department received reliable information that Anthony Joseph Johnson, 37, was manufacturing explosive devices at his residence, located at 420 Kalmia St. in Junction City.

At 11:21 A.M. on Monday, September 17, 2018 neighbors summoned Junction City Police Officers to the Johnson residence on a report of a domestic disturbance between Johnson and the female who resides at the house with him.  Upon arrival it was determined that Johnson had rushed the female with a hatchet then drove the hatchet through the windshield of her vehicle.  The female was referred to a domestic violence resource organization to help ensure her safety.  Attempts were made to contact and interview Johnson; however, he barricaded himself in his residence and refused to come out.  Based upon the information law enforcement had gained since July regarding the existence of explosives being located in the residence, for the safety of citizens and officers alike the decision was made to not attempt entry into the residence to arrest Johnson.

On Tuesday September 18, 2018 at about 11:50 A.M. witnesses reported a white male and female were transporting clear plastic baggies of a white powdery substance from a vehicle into and out of the residence.  The vehicle was owned by a subject later identified as Jeffrey Robert Alkemade, 35, of Eugene.  Investigation revealed Alkemade had a warrant for his arrest for Probation Violation on weapons charges.  Alkemade was arrested without incident and lodged at the Lane County Jail.

On Wednesday September 19, 2018, at about 5:20 P.M. Johnson was arrested without incident outside his residence on the charge of Menacing under the Abuse Prevention Act, for the incident with the hatchet.  He was also charged with Criminal Mischief III for spitting all over the back of the patrol car.  For health-safety reasons the vehicle must be completely sanitized from his body fluids, which requires extensive disassembly of protective equipment to accomplish.

During the course of this investigation credible information that Johnson had firearms in his residence was obtained.  Being a convicted felon Mr. Johnson cannot legally possess firearms.  In addition, while on scene officers were approached by multiple individuals who stated they had been hearing explosions from Johnson’s property for the past several months.  Witnesses also came forward stating that Johnson had admitted to them he was making explosives out of fertilizer.  Moreover, several individuals stated Johnson provided demonstrations for them where he ignited an unknown white powdery type substance.  Further, some witnesses stated that on one occasion a vehicle owned by Johnson received extensive damaged when explosives, which he was transporting in the vehicle, accidently exploded.

Officers subsequently secured the residence and obtained a search warrant for the search, seizure, and analysis of any firearms, explosives, and/or any other related items located in the house.  Because of the potential dangerous volatility of explosives, the Eugene Police Department Explosives Disposal Unit (EDU) was summoned to take control of the initial search of the house.  The on-scene EDU commander stated that depending upon the chemical type, based upon the volumes described by witnesses, the destruction pattern of detonation could level at least one city block.  For this reason the EDU ordered the evacuation of homes within the same block and those immediately adjacent thereto.  After homes were evacuated and citizens were safe, EDU technicians entered the home and thankfully determined no explosives were found, but did note that various empty chemical containers were present.

The subsequent search of Johnson’s residence by the EDU, ATF, and Junction City Police netted the following items:

• 9mm handgun
• .22 caliber rifle
• Revolver
• 591 rounds of ammunition
• Multiple scales Small
• Plastic ziploc-style baggies Red-colored tree bark, chemicals, and equipment used to make N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - - DMT is a psychedelic compound that is a Schedule I Controlled Substance.

Upon executing the search warrant on the vehicle that was owned by Johnson that had allegedly sustained damage in an explosion, officers located evidence clearly supporting the fact that explosion had occurred.

As a result of this investigation Johnson, who remains in-custody at the Lane County Jail as of the writing of this press release, had the following additional charges added to the existing domestic violence-related charges.

• Three (3) counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• One (1) count of Manufacturing a Controlled Substance within a 1000 Feet of a School
• One (1) count of Manufacturing a Destructive Device
• Two (2) counts of Possession of a Destructive Device

This is an ongoing investigation; anyone with information relating to this or other incidents is urged to contact the Junction City Police Department immediately at 541-998-1245.