Johnson County law enforcement uncovers viable pipe bomb

BUFFALO (WNE) — A man’s request at a local store sparked a law enforcement investigation and led to him being charged with possession of an explosive device and reckless endangerment, according to court documents.

Buffalo’s Ace Hardware called law enforcement on Sunday, Feb. 22, after a man, later identified as Tyler Roy, purchased some supplies that Friday and returned Saturday looking to purchase fuses, which Ace does not sell, according to the affidavit. 

After discussing the situation on Sunday as a staff, the employees decided to alert law enforcement. 

Law enforcement identified Roy based on the Ace Hardware reward’s number he used at checkout and security footage from the store, according to the affidavit.

Roy was arrested during a traffic stop, and transported to the Johnson County Detention Center, according to the affidavit. During a search of Roy’s residence, law enforcement found a shoebox under a bed. The shoebox contained two metal pipes with end caps, metal wire, gunpowder, paracord, air rifle BBs and string. The Campbell County Bomb Squad was called in to collect the shoebox, analyze its contents and destroy it.

A handwritten note about bomb-making instructions was on the top of the shoebox, according to the affidavit.

“(The bomb squad) did X-ray those bombs, Bissett said. “That’s what they ended up being. . . . At some point this was going to be used, in my opinion, and what we see on the news, we don’t take this stuff very lightly. This was, unfortunately, something that could have caused mass casualties.”

Roy is being held on a $100,000 bond. 

Bissett said this was a prime example of the motto “If you see something, say something.” 

The reports from the hardware store employees were critical, he said.

“I think we prevented a tragedy,” he said. “We haven’t been able to pinpoint what that was yet.”

This story was published on March 12, 2026.