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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Explosive devices, assault rifles seized on South Virginia Street

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Police car

More than one improvised explosive device (IED) were seized from a South Virginia Street residence alongside other weapons by the Piedmont Regional Drug and Gang Task Force resulting in one arrest on Monday, April 23, according to Longwood University Chief of Police Col. Robert Beach.

At 9 p.m. on Monday, the task force executed a search warrant issued for drugs at the residence on the 300 block of South Virginia Street. While searching the house, the task force found the IEDs. Beach said they were pipe bombs, tightly sealed pipes filled with explosive material. 

A Virginia State Police bomb technician from the Appomattox field office responded to investigate the IED and render the confiscated device safe.

The task force also seized several assault rifles, body armor, ballistic helmets, communication devices and "a small amount" of marijuana, according to the Longwood Police Department's press release. 

Beach said additional search warrants were issued for the seizure of the explosive devices and other contraband. 

Robert Baldwin III, 49, a Farmville man, was arrested in connection with the search at the scene and was taken into custody without incident, said Beach. It's not certain if another relative was at the residence at the time.

Baldwin was charged with two felony counts of grand larceny, one felony count for possession of explosive device and one misdemeanor count for possession of marijuana, according to the press release.

Beach said any motive or accomplices are still under investigation. It's not known how long the task force had been investigating Baldwin. 

According to the Virginia General District Court Case Information System, Baldwin doesn't have any prior convictions in Prince Edward County. Beach said he was unaware of any criminal record at the time. 

Baldwin is currently being held in Piedmont Regional Jail, according to the press release. 

The investigation remains ongoing with additional charges pending.

The Piedmont Regional Drug and Gang Task Force is comprised of members from the Farmville Police Department, Longwood University Police Department, Prince Edward County Sheriff's Office, Buckingham County Sheriff's Office, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Appomattox Field Office.