Suspected North Canton Bomb Maker Appearing in Court Friday

Thomas Ward — the man accused of making improvised explosive devices in his North Canton home — will be arraigned in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas on Friday.

Ward, 51, will have the option to enter a plea, a judge will be selected and a pretrial date will be set, according to the Stark County Clerk of Courts Office.

On July 9, Ward was indicted on charges of unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, a fifth-degree felony, by the Stark County Grand Jury. 

North Canton police arrested Ward on June 4 at the Towne Manor Motel, located at 926 Tuscarawas St. West in Canton. 

"NCPD detectives had been checking on several community based housing locations when he was discovered to be staying at the motel," said North Canton Police Chief Stephan Wilder at the time of his arrest. 

Canton police assisted in his capture. 

Ward, who reportedly suffers from a mental illness, had been missing since May 20 after police found three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in his home, located at 1122 Sunford Ave. SE. 

Ward has been held in Stark County Jail since his June arrest.