In Oklahoma, a man was taken into custody in November 2024 by White Settlement police after they discovered numerous firearms and explosive devices in his van. The man, identified as Tino Napoleon Ross, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of his arrest, as reported by WFAA last year. While the police initially took him to a local medical facility for evaluation, he is now facing a series of criminal charges following the incident.
Charges laid against Ross include third-degree felony for Possession of Prohibited Weapons (which involved three explosive weapons/improvised explosive devices), a class A misdemeanor for Unlawfully Carrying Weapons (involving multiple firearms), and another class A misdemeanor for Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transportation. The events unfolded on November 26, 2024, when officers from White Settlement responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle on Jason Lane at approximately 5:29 a.m. Upon arrival, they found Ross in the driver’s seat of a van, with a handgun visible on his lap.
Bodycam footage released by the police showed officers engaging with Ross, eventually managing to remove him from the van without the firearm. Subsequently, law enforcement discovered what appeared to be improvised explosive devices within the vehicle, prompting the arrival of authorities from Fort Worth Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Bomb Squad. These agencies confirmed the presence of explosives, in addition to locating a rifle and AR-style pistol inside the van alongside the handguns. The situation was described by one officer as potentially preparing for a catastrophic event, given the arsenal found in the vehicle. Ross remained under confinement from the time of his medical evaluation until his recent arrest. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also played a role in the investigation by executing a search warrant at Ross’s residence in Oklahoma, seizing materials used in the production of the explosive devices. The suspect is expected to be transferred to Tarrant County Jail in the near future for further legal proceedings.
