GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - On Sunday, May 30^th, 2021 at approximately 10:27 am, Gridley Police Department Officers observed a Toyota 4Runner parked diagonally across two disabled parking spots at the Gridley Branch Library. Officers initiated a traffic enforcement stop for the violation. The driver, Ronald Montgomery, was contacted and said he was parked the way he was, due to his employment. Montgomery was delivering local newspapers to the location.

A records check of Montgomery revealed him to be on active CDCR parole. Officers conducted a parole search of Montgomery’s person and of his vehicle. In the passenger seat, under several newspapers, Officers located a glass jar with pale yellow liquid consistent with gasoline. The jar contained a long cloth, extending from a hole in the lid and appeared to be an incendiary device, consistent with a Molotov cocktail. A Molotov cocktail is a crude incendiary bomb made from a breakable container, such as a bottle, filled with flammable liquid and provided with a rag wick, meant to be thrown similar to a grenade.

The Butte County Interagency Bomb Squad and CAL FIRE Hazmat Team was called for assistance regarding authentication and disposal of the incendiary device. During an extensive interview, Montgomery admitted to constructing the device for self-protection.

Montgomery is currently being held at the Butte County Jail for the violation of possession of an explosive destructive device, possession of an explosive destructive device in a public place, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of parole. Montgomery is being held with a $516,000 bail.