In October 2024, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into allegations of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) being manufactured, possessed, and concealed on a property located on Rusk County Road 2192. Leads from the investigation prompted law enforcement to seek and obtain an evidentiary search warrant for the property in the twelve thousand block of Rusk County Road 2192 in Tatum, Texas.
On October 7, 2024, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Tatum Police Department, and Constable Precinct 2 Office executed the warrant at the Martin property. During the operation, personnel discovered two devices believed to be hand-thrown improvised explosive devices. Following this discovery, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Tyler Office was notified and responded to secure the suspected explosive devices.
In addition to the IEDs, investigators seized numerous firearms, suspected methamphetamine, and suspected marijuana. Based on the evidence gathered, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division sought and obtained arrest warrants for Ronald Martin, charging him with Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (Improvised Explosive Device) and Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1 (Methamphetamine).
The evidentiary search warrant was issued by Rusk County Court at Law Judge Chad Dean. On October 22, 2024, Ronald Martin, 65, of Tatum, was arrested on the outstanding warrants and taken into custody at the Rusk County Jail, where he received bonds totaling $70,000. The arrest warrants and bonds were issued by Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Jana Enloe. This investigation is ongoing.
