Suspected Explosive Device Found In Page County Vehicle, Owner Charged: Police

Page County deputies found a suspected explosive device inside a vehicle while investigating reports of a domestic disturbance Saturday, the Page County Sheriff’s Office reported, and a man has been charged in connection with the incident.

Russell Timothy Ropka, 40, of Stanley, VA, is charged with two counts of manufacturing, transporting, distributing, possessing, or using a fire bomb or explosive materials or devices, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. He is being held at the Page County Jail without bond.

According to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, while conducting a welfare check on a woman and investigating a possible domestic disturbance on the 1400 block of Lucas Hollow Road, police officers learned that a man had been “screeching wheels” in front of the residence where the subject of their welfare check was located and that loud explosions had been heard.

While checking the area, deputies spotted the suspect’s vehicle, briefly lost sight of it, and then found it abandoned nearby shortly after. While checking the vehicle, deputies say they saw an apparent explosive device. The Virginia State Police Bomb Unit was requested and responded with bomb techs and an explosive-detecting dog. The bomb techs were able to retrieve the suspected explosive device from the vehicle.

Ropka was found and taken into custody without incident.

Page County authorities say they were assisted in the investigation by the Virginia State Police, the Shenandoah Police Department, Page County Fire/EMS, the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department and the Page County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.