The FBI is releasing new information about a man suspected of possessing explosive materials a day after searching his San Francisco apartment during an hours-long warrant operation.
Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II, 42, is wanted for allegedly possessing explosive materials at his home on Jackson Street between Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue, FBI spokesman Peter Lee said at a news conference outside of the agency’s San Francisco office this afternoon.
Lee said Chamberlain, who is at large and is believed to be traveling alone, is considered be armed and dangerous and could have explosives. The agency has released photos of Chamberlain and describes him as a white man with brown hair and blue eyes who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 225 pounds.
According to the FBI, he was last seen on Saturday south of San Francisco and was wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans and driving a white 2008 Nissan Altima with a California or Texas license plates of either 7FQY085 or BX9M042.
Anyone who sees Chamberlain is asked not to approach him and to call 911 immediately.
“Anyone who possesses explosives should be considered armed and dangerous,” he said.
However, the spokesman said, “He has not made any threats that I know of…there is no threat to public safety at this time that we know of.”
Law enforcement officers throughout the state and nation have been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect, Lee said at today’s news briefing.
The press conference came a day after agency personnel served a search warrant at Chamberlain’s Russian Hill apartment.
FBI agents, San Francisco police and fire and a hazardous materials crew converged on the building on Saturday morning, with personnel remaining at the scene overnight.
Crews wearing hazmat suits were seen going in and out of the two-story building for hours on Saturday and people were gathered on the building’s roof, according to a witness.
A section of Jackson Street between Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue was blocked off for several hours on Saturday during the search warrant operation, reopening around 12:30 a.m.
Chamberlain’s apartment remains sealed off and is considered an active crime scene, according to Lee.
The spokesman declined to comment on the types of explosives allegedly located in the suspect’s apartment but disputed reports that a highly toxic chemical known as Ricin was found at the residence.
