Bullhead City police say a series of prison phone calls led them straight to a local man and an explosive device. Officers arrested 23-year-old Bryan Christopher Lee Chambers on Wednesday after investigators reported that recorded inmate calls flagged a family member who had been building a bomb. A search of Chambers' home allegedly turned up an explosive device, explosive-making materials and cocaine, and he was booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman.
How police say the probe began
According to investigators, the case kicked off when the Yuma prison's investigation division reviewed recorded inmate phone calls that referenced a relative making a bomb. The audio transcripts, police said, also included talk about hiding firearms and drugs and mentioned the Laughlin Bridge, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. That is the kind of chatter that gets detectives to move quickly.
What officers say they found
Bullhead City officers took Chambers into custody on Wednesday morning. Police say he had cocaine on him when he was arrested, and that a later search of his residence turned up more. During that search, officers "located an explosive device and explosive-making materials, along with additional cocaine," the department's statement said, per FOX 10 Phoenix. Chambers was booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, whose public jail information page lists the facility and booking resources.
What comes next
Chambers is accused of making terrorist threats along with drug-related offenses. Local prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges and what bail, if any, to seek. The Mohave County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions in the county and posts updates and resources on its site, which is where charging decisions and court dates will be recorded once they are made public.
Why authorities treat prison calls as serious leads
Law enforcement officials say recorded inmate communications can provide early warnings about active plans or outside accomplices, triggering fast, multi-agency follow-ups meant to head off possible violence. Federal intelligence officials have also stressed the danger posed by attackers who act with little or no outside direction; national context on lone-actor threats can be found in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s 2026 Annual Threat Assessment.
What to watch
Police have not released any information about a possible motive and say the investigation remains active. Prosecutors’ filings and the county jail’s public records will show any formal charges and upcoming court dates as the case moves through the system. Hoodline readers with tips or concerns are encouraged to contact the Bullhead City Police Department’s nonemergency line or Mohave County authorities as the case proceeds.
