Man caught with explosive after trespassing in northwest Lincoln creek, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man was caught Thursday with an explosive device after trespassing in a northwest Lincoln creek, police say.

Around 8:30 a.m., officers were checking a field along Oak Creek near Northwest 12th Street and Cornhusker Highway for trespassers.

Police said officers found Lynn Cavanaugh, 63, sleeping in a tent.

He had a stolen E-bike with a makeshift battery hot-wired to the bike, according to LPD.

Cavanaugh told officers he wanted to be taken to the hospital.

During this time, officers got consent to search his backpack, police said.

Officers then found two bags of suspected crystal meth and another one with marijuana bud, according to LPD.

They also discovered a “cylindrical tube with silver tape on both ends and a fuse coming out of the side,” police said.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue’s hazardous device team confirmed it was an explosive device, with almost 431 times the legal weight allowed of powder inside.

Cavanaugh was released from the hospital and arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of an explosive.