GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —

A Kent County man is facing firearm and explosives charges after he allegedly planned to burn down multiple businesses in Grand Rapids with homemade Molotov Cocktails.

52-year-old James Steven Cleland is facing a federal possession of an unregistered firearm charge, which is a fourth-level offense.

According to a federal probable cause affidavit, a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was working with an ATF confidential informant who had known Cleland for many years.

Last week, the confidential informant informed the agent that Cleland “wanted to burn buildings and property” of the first victim at their towing company in Grand Rapids, and the property of another victim at another local business in Grand Rapids.

Clelan

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