Arrest Made In Bishop Bomber Case

He was once known to authorities only as the Bishop Bomber. But after months of investigation, he now has a real name and a face.

That man is John Tomkins, 42, from Dubuque. Investigators arrested him on his way to work Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, Tomkins made an initial appearance in federal court in Chicago.

Click here for arrest documents.

Investigators closed Grant Street from early Wednesday morning until the afternoon. They were searching the Tomkins home at 2067 Grant St. The neighborhood has been filled with investigators and local and national media all day. Investigators believe they’ve finally come to the end of a two-year search.

The nationwide search for the man who calls himself the Bishop Bomber ends here on this quiet west end street. Investigators say John Tomkins motivation was money.

Investigators say Tomkins allegedly sent threatening notes to financial companies demanding a raise in stock numbers. Investigators say in January Tomkins sent two packages through the U.S. Postal System that had pipe bombs inside. He sent one to Kansas City, Mo. The other was found in the Chicago area.

Colen says Tomkins bought some of the supplies to make the bombs at the Dubuque Menards store. Another search team found several pieces of equipment belonging to Tomkins in this storage unit behind the Penn Place Apartments in Dubuque. All of the recovered evidence is now being sent to a crime lab in Chicago.

Developing…