Lakewood neighbors say accused bridge bomb plot suspect Brandon Baxter was 'eccentric'

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Neighbors of a Lakewood man accused of being part of a plot to blow up a bridge in Brecksville told NewsChannel5 they were "not surprised" to learn he was arrested for a crime.

Brandon Baxter, 20 is one of five men accused of planning to bomb the bridge on Route 82, according to the FBI. 

"Brandon was just the kind of kid that you didn't want to be around. You knew when you saw him coming, you just go the other way," said Tom Shafer, who lives a few doors down from Baxter's father's home in Lakewood.

Shafer said the way Baxter "carried himself," dressed and had screaming matches with his father made him uneasy.

Another neighbor expressed similar sentiments. Karen Kahelin lives across the street from Baxter's home. She said she didn't know him well, but said Baxter had a reputation on the street.

"I have always heard he was just unique, or kind of, I think the word I heard the most in the neighborhood is 'eccentric,'" said Kahelin.

Kahelin said she thought Baxter was a rebellious teen. She said he dressed in dark or "goth" clothing and sometimes walked their street. She said she was not surprised he was arrested, but she was shocked to learn the arrest involved a bomb plot.

"I mean, when my kids were riding by on their bikes, he never gave him a hard time. He'd say 'Hi' to me when I was taking the baby for a walk. Just a 'Hi. Miss," she said.

Kahelin and Shafer both said Baxter's father is a good neighbor. Lakewood police said they have been to the home several times to deal with building issues. They also said someone in the home obtained a protection order in 2010, but there had been no recent calls to police involving Baxter.

Keep checking newsnet5.com for the latest on this developing story.