Ohio man indicted for chase in which he threw bottles of explosive chemicals at officers

A Bloomdale man was indicted on multiple charges related to a chase in which he lit and threw bottles of explosive chemicals at law enforcement officers, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

William B. Milliron, 45, was charged with assault on federal officers, possession and use of a destructive device during a crime of violence, manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

U.S. Marshals were searching for Milliron near Bowling Green on Feb. 24 because of a probation violation in Florida. They spotted Milliron and attempted to pull over Milliron, who fled. Marshals pursued and officers from the North Baltimore Police Department joined the chase, according to court documents.

Milliron began throwing bottles containing unknown substances at the pursuing cars, and one of the bottles exploded on the front end and windshield of the police vehicle, according to court documents.

The pursuit continued into Fostoria and then Findlay, when Milliron’s vehicle went off the road and crashed. Milliron was arrested and had 13 rounds of live ammunition in his pants pocket, according to court documents.

The substance in the bottles was found to be a combination of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine. The chemicals are highly volatile, toxic and combustible. The bottles had paper wicks which were charred from being lit on fire, according to court documents.

Milliron has multiple felony convictions in Florida for crimes including grand theft of firearms, resisting an officer with violence, battery on an officer, manufacture of methamphetamine and other crimes, according to court documents.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigating agency in this case is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Weldon

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.