Bond Remains At $2 Million For Neff Following Wednesday Hearing

The man accused of and planning to ignite them on the National Mall hoped to gain publicity for a “new system of mass transportation” he had proposed, according to charging documents and statements made in court Wednesday.

A prosecutor said at a Wednesday bond review hearing that Glenn Neff, 27, of Stuart, Fla., outlined his ideas for a transportation system capable of functioning on roads and light rail tracks in a 60-page manifesto. Neff told authorities it was his goal to be arrested, according to charging documents in the case. “With that media attention he would then be able to explain his dual transit system,” the charging documents read.

Bond will remain at $2 million for Neff, who is custody following his arrest Monday evening in Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, where he was discovered building the device capable of shooting fireworks from the top of his Jeep Cherokee.

According to charging documents, “numerous items consistent with compenents of Improvised Explosive Devices [IED] were located within the vehicle in plain view,” including fuses, wire, resistors, switches, batteries, fireworks and PVC pipe.

When Neff was initially approached by a Maryland-National Capital Park Police officer, he threw an object later found to be a piece of plywood with fireworks taped it from his lap into the back of the car, charging documents read.

Neff initially told authorities he had planned on traveling to Philadelphia to surprise a friend with a fireworks display for his birthday, according to charging documents. He later revealed his plan to shoot off the fireworks on the National Mall. Neff bought the fireworks in South Carolina, constructed the device at a cabin he rented in the Shenendoah Valley, and tested the circuitry and electrical components of the device in a Fairfax motel, the charging documents read.

Authorities have said the device was capable of shooting fireworks horizontally and could have had the potential to cause serious harm.

At Wednesday's hearing, prosecutor Peter Feeney argued that Neff was a threat to the community and a flight risk. A judge ordered that Neff continue to be held on $2 million bond.

This story will be updated.