Car Bomb Victim To Take Lie Test

A Spokane man whose car was bombed last Sunday says federal agents want him to take a lie detector test.

“Whenever they’re ready, I’ll do it,” 25-year-old William “Willie” Mitchell said Tuesday.

Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms are pursuing various leads, but have made no arrests.

They are examining the possibility that the pipe bombing may be racially motivated, or related to gangs or drugs.

Mitchell said he and his wife, Tina, have decided to move because of the bombing.

The couple called various social service agencies, including the prosecuting attorney’s victim-witness unit, and can’t get financial assistance.

“We have a 2-month-old son we’ve got to think about,” Mitchell said.

He acknowledged his six felony convictions and use of phony names.

“That’s true, but it’s in the past,” he said. “I’ve turned my life around” since moving from Tacoma to Spokane about year ago.

“I was never a gang member,” said Mitchell, who grew up in Tacoma’s tough Hilltop neighborhood.

“I grew up in a bad neighborhood, and some of the kids I knew were in gangs. I knew them, but that doesn’t make me a gang member.”

Mitchell said he doesn’t know who might have used a pipe bomb to destroy his 1985 Dodge Colt. He didn’t have insurance and still owes $433 on the car, he said.

“I want to know who did this as bad as they do,” Mitchell said.

, DataTimes