US Soldier Sentenced For Chemical Weapon Manufacture, Possession, Causing Injury To Officers

A U.S. soldier was sentenced to more than 11 years imprisonment Monday for manufacturing, possessing and detonating a chemical weapon in the Kisatchie National Forest adjoining the Fort Polk Army installation, Louisiana.

The imprisonment of Ryan Keith Taylor, 24, a soldier at Fort Polk will be followed by five years of supervised release, the Department Of Justice said in a statement Monday. The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana. It was issued by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey.

“Taylor produced and detonated a chemical bomb near Fort Polk, causing injury to his fellow soldiers who responded to and investigated the incident. Today’s sentence holds Taylor accountable for his crime and makes clear that we will not tolerate such conduct. I want to thank the agents and prosecutors who are responsible for this result and our military and local law enforcement partners for their significant contributions to this investigation,” said Demers.

Taylor detonated an explosive device containing chlorine gas on April 12, 2017 in the national forest. Three soldiers who were conducting a training exercise nearby heard the explosions and rushed to the spot where they found Taylor standing near his vehicle filming the explosion with his cell phone. The soldiers then questioned Taylor and reported the incident to military police.

Fort Polk military police investigators arrived at the scene and collected samples. One of the investigators filled a plastic bag with a rock coated with an unknown substance. The bag immediately popped and the investigator’s plastic gloves and boots began to melt. His skin started burning and he faced difficulty in breathing, the statement said.

Taylor was detained and his vehicle was checked. During the search, remains of the explosive device and chlorine residue were found. Another investigator who inhaled and touched the remains was hospitalized. During the investigation, officials also found bomb-making notes, materials and chemical residue in his vehicle, apartment and storage building.

The two people who inhaled the chlorine gas had to get treatment for their injuries multiple times and this ended their military careers.

The investigation was held jointly by the U.S. Army Directorate of Emergency Services, Military Police, Criminal Investigation Command, Military Intelligence/Army Counter Intelligence at Fort Polk, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Louisiana State Police, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and local police and fire agencies.

“Supporting and protecting our soldiers is of utmost importance to my office. Those serving our country put their lives on the line daily to protect us. They should not be put in danger needlessly. The chemical weapon the defendant created in this case is banned under international and national laws because of its terrible effects on the human body. I want to thank our U.S. military, federal and local law enforcement for their combined effort investigating this case and bringing this defendant to justice,” said Attorney Joseph.