Published: July 06, 2008 12:57 am      

Olive Hill resident arrested

Police confiscate illegal explosives, hand grenades

ASHLAND — An Olive Hill man is facing more than 200 criminal charges stemming from a Friday confrontation with police.

According to Kentucky State Police, 61-year-old Clarence Lyons, of Short Ridge Road, was arrested Friday after illegally trying to close a county road. On Saturday police served a warrant on Lyons, adding 198 counts of criminal possession of a destructive or booby trap device, after a search of his home revealed several inert hand grenades and additional explosives.

The incident began at approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday when the Ashland post received a call that Lyons had stretched a rope across a roadway near his home to hinder the flow of traffic. Police say Lyons previously contacted authorities to tell them that he had intentions of blocking the road during the holiday, saying he would defend his blockade if necessary.

Shortly after police received the complaint, Lyons called to say his blockade had been torn down. During the course of that conversation, Lyons made statements that prompted police to obtain an arrest warrant for him.

Troopers from the Ashland post, with assistance from the KSP Special Response Team, apprehended Lyons. He was arrested and taken to the Carter County Detention Center.

He was charged with two counts of obstructing a highway, resisting arrest, first-degree wanton endangerment and third-degree terroristic threatening as a result of that incident.

After Lyons was arrested, police executed a search warrant on his property. During the search they found a number of inert hand grenades along with a quantity of blasting materials, which were turned over to investigator Hilton Hastings of the KSP Hazardous Devices Unit. The illegal explosives will eventually be disposed of, according to police.

Lyons, still in police custody, was charged Saturday with 198 counts of criminal possession of a destructive or booby trap device, a Class D felony.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.