A routine traffic stop in Illinois turned into an hours-long standoff after a wanted passenger allegedly pulled out what he said was a bomb, ran through a residential neighborhood with the device in his hand, and barricaded himself inside his mother’s home.
The incident was featured by the bodycam YouTube channel Code Blue Cam, whose narrator said an Iroquois County Sheriff’s detective initially stopped a white Ford Edge in Onarga because its registration was suspended.
The detective quickly recognized the passenger as 39-year-old James Nelson, who had an active felony warrant for aggravated fleeing and eluding.
What the detective did not know was how far Nelson was prepared to go to avoid being arrested.
Traffic Stop Turns Into a Foot Chase
Bodycam footage shows the detective approaching the SUV and telling Nelson to get out.
Nelson immediately began pleading with him.
“Just this once, let me go, dude,” Nelson said.
The detective refused, reminding him that he had an active warrant.
Nelson then asked whether he could first go home and speak with his mother, saying he believed he would not be released once he reached jail.
Again, the detective told him to get out.
The situation changed abruptly when Nelson reached into the vehicle.
The detective repeatedly ordered him to remove his hand, at which point Nelson allegedly produced a gray cylindrical device and announced that he had a bomb.
The detective backed away as Nelson took off running.
“He says he has a bomb in his hand,” the officer radioed.
The chase moved through the neighborhood as the detective repeatedly ordered Nelson to stop.
According to Code Blue Cam, Nelson occasionally stopped and placed his other hand over the device in a way that suggested he might detonate it.
That transformed what had started as a warrant arrest into an emergency involving an unknown explosive device in a residential area.
Nelson Barricades Himself Inside His Mother’s House
Nelson eventually reached his mother’s home and went inside.
His mother later came out and was moved to safety, while Nelson remained barricaded in the house.
By around 1:48 p.m., the East Central Illinois Bomb Squad had arrived.
Code Blue Cam said a robot was sent inside and successfully checked the first floor, but officers ran into a problem when it reached the attic entrance.
The door was locked.
Investigators believed Nelson had barricaded himself upstairs.
The Kankakee County Emergency Response Team arrived later in the afternoon, more than five hours after the encounter began.
Officers repeatedly announced themselves and ordered Nelson to surrender.
He did not respond.
Attempts to reach the attic through a window also failed.
By around 7:30 p.m., more than eight hours into the standoff, tactical officers decided they would have to enter the home and move toward the attic themselves.
At that point, they still believed Nelson had access to a bomb.
They would soon discover that was not the only potentially dangerous item around him.
Tactical Team Searches the Attic
Bodycam footage shows officers carefully moving through the home with shields, a police dog and tactical equipment.
The attic was larger and more cluttered than expected, with plastic sheeting, furniture and other obstacles limiting visibility.
Officers repeatedly checked corners and discussed possible hiding spots.
At one point, they noticed insulation and other material that appeared disturbed.
Eventually, they located Nelson deep inside the attic.
Officers also noticed that he appeared to have shoved something into his pants.
One officer identified what looked like a large pair of scissors.
A Taser was brought forward as officers ordered Nelson to show his hands.
The confrontation ended with the team moving in and pulling him from the hiding area.
Officers secured the scissors and placed Nelson in handcuffs.
Medical personnel were called immediately.
The footage shows officers monitoring his breathing and arranging for him to be carried downstairs on a litter.
For everyone involved, the arrest ended one immediate danger, but investigators still had to determine whether the supposed bomb was real.
Bomb Squad Confirms the Device Was Explosive
After Nelson was taken into custody, officers returned to the attic.
According to Code Blue Cam, they found the device Nelson had carried during the original traffic stop near the area where he had been hiding.
A lighter was also located nearby.
The bomb squad later confirmed that the object was not a fake.
The device contained explosive material along with metal projectiles.
That confirmation makes the opening moments of the traffic stop considerably more serious in hindsight.
The detective had no way to know whether Nelson was bluffing when he announced that he had a bomb and ran.
He was not.
Investigators also found a red toolbox containing ammunition and other items.
Code Blue Cam said the contents included 147 rounds of ammunition, a rifle, 240 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 19 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition, a .40-caliber round, a .50 BMG round and 40 rounds of .22-caliber powder-actuated tool loads.
The quantity and variety of ammunition reinforced how dangerous the scene could have become if Nelson had decided to fight officers rather than hide.
Nelson Had Apparently Fallen Asleep
One of the stranger details came after the arrest.
Code Blue Cam said Nelson later admitted during a jail call with his mother that he had fallen asleep in the attic.
He said he woke up when the police dog bit him.
Nelson also acknowledged that he knew police were using drones outside and said he had gone downstairs at one point to get a drink before retreating to the attic again after seeing officers around the property.
He reportedly questioned his mother about who had revealed where he was hiding.
He also said he had been close to “snapping” when officers were making announcements outside.
Considering that police believed he had an explosive device and later found large amounts of ammunition nearby, the fact that he was apparently asleep when officers finally reached him may have prevented the confrontation from becoming much worse.
Federal Prison Sentence Followed
Nelson received medical treatment after his arrest and was later cleared.
According to Code Blue Cam, he faced charges including possession of an unregistered destructive device, aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of explosives or incendiary devices, and aggravated battery of a peace officer.
The federal bomb case ultimately resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
Nelson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after leaving prison.
The original encounter had begun with a suspended registration and an outstanding warrant.
Within minutes, however, a detective was chasing a man through a neighborhood while warning other officers that the suspect claimed to be carrying a bomb.
Hours later, tactical teams were searching an attic where Nelson had hidden with the device and other weapons nearby.
There are plenty of traffic stops where suspects bluff about what they have, hoping officers will back away.
This was not one of them.
The bomb squad ultimately confirmed that the device Nelson displayed to the detective was real, turning an already chaotic effort to avoid arrest into a federal explosives case that ended with years in prison.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
