FBI Arrests Recon Expert Who Trained Individuals with Intent to Kill Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Army Veteran and reconnaissance expert Christopher Arthur, age 38, faces charges for teaching individuals how to make explosives, knowing the intend was to try to kill law enforcement. Arthur founded Tackleberry Solutions in 2017—an organization that teaches "wartime military tactics online to the everyday citizen for Civil Defense purposes," the website notes, and offers free instruction manuals for those who provide an email address.
According to the Justice Department, Arthur first appeared on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) radar in 2020 following an investigation and eventual shootout with an unnamed individual trying to organize a militia group and “preparing to engage against the United States Government."
Law enforcement officers located several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), firearms inside the unnamed individual’s vehicle and home, as well as instruction manuals from Tackleberry Solutions. Federal prosecutors allege the individual had attended in-person training with Arthur.
Arthur later became a person of interest when a confidential informant working with the FBI contacted the Tackleberry Solutions and requested one of the manuals it offered for free, and Arthur obliged. Afterwards, Arthur sent an email explaining that some information could not be divulged online due to the sensitivity of explosives, and subsequently provided his phone number to continue communicating by phone.
The informant later visited Arthur’s home. Using tripwire switches and improvised initiators, Arthur demonstrated how to assemble IED components. After demonstrating how to make the components, Arthur gave the components to the informant.
“Arthur then explained how to properly place IEDs throughout the property, the importance of creating a fatal funnel, the setup and use of remote activated firearms. and how to evade arrest after killing members of law enforcement,” the informant stated.
The DOJ allege that in response to the individual admitting they intended to kill law enforcement officers on their property, Arthur knowingly provided instructions on how to make and use IEDs and how to evade arrest after.
A search warrant was executed at Arthur's home following his arrest. In their search, local authorities found several IEDs, an IED striker plate, an electronic IED trigger, a pistol suppressor, bulk gunpowder, and mixed Tannerite explosive.
“Law enforcement officers are being feloniously killed in the line of duty at an alarming rate. The behavior alleged in this indictment, training someone in methods of how to kill or injure law enforcement, is both serious and frightening," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells.
The FBI arrested Arthur on January 22. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.