NILES A man from Mercer Borough has been arrested in Niles after police say they found weapons and homemade explosives on him.

Niles Police Captain John Marshall tells 21 News John Podleyon was stopped near the Von Isley Estate in Niles around 5:45 a.m. after officers saw his vehicle in the parking lot of a closed business.

Marshall says during the traffic stop, officers found an evidence box with guns inside. Podleyon allegedly told police he had more in the car. Police say a search of Podleyon's car revealed homemade explosives.

“It looked like about the size of a baseball wrapped in electric tape with a fuse,” Marshall said. “He was doing something with a car load of guns and bombs but we don't have any idea what that is and unfortunately our conversation with him left us with more questions than answers.”

Podleyon allegedly told police that the explosives were fireworks.

Police say Podleyon told officers he was heading to the Eastwood Mall Plaza in Howland to get his other car, which he said had been parked there for more than two weeks.

“That didn't make a lot of sense because he was alone trying to recover a second car,” Marshall said.

Crime scene tape was placed around the parking spot outside of the Burlington store where the second car, a white Subaru, was parked. Several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as the Howland Police and Fire Departments and the Canfield Police Department were all on scene investigating for hours. 

Howland Police didn't find anything during their initial sweep of the Subaru but couldn't get the trunk open because the battery had been removed from the car. The bomb squad was able to pry it open but found nothing inside. 

All businesses in the plaza were open as normal while investigators were searching.

 

John Podleyon
John Podleyon  

 

Niles police say they are trying to contact the ATF to search Podleyon's house in Mercer, where they expect to find more guns and possibly explosives.

Podleyon is charged with carrying concealed weapons, a first-degree misdemeanor and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance, a fifth-degree felony. 

Podleyon was arraigned Thursday morning where his bond was set at $100,000. He is due back in court Monday, September 22.