Spokane7
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November 23, 2011 in City
Parade change averted blast
Harpham wasn’t close enough to detonate bomb
Harpham
(Full-size photo)
The lingering mystery of why the bomb left along the planned route of the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March didn’t explode finally has an answer: The remote triggering device never got close enough to detonate it.
A federal source close to the investigation confirmed late Tuesday – after court files were unsealed in the case against Kevin W. Harpham – that the actions of two city contract workers and Spokane police Sgts. Jason Hartman and Eric Olsen likely averted an explosion that could have killed or severely injured several people.
Harpham “was in the parade,” the source said. “It was the good work of the Spokane Police Department in moving the parade that removed an opportunity to detonate the device.”
Harpham, 37, has pleaded guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and targeting minorities with the bomb he admittedly built using quarter-ounce fishing weights laced with rat poison. He placed the bomb on the northeast corner of Main Avenue and Washington Street, originally along the march’s route.
According to the case file, it was the fishing sinkers that sank Harpham.
After learning of the bomb’s contents soon after Jan. 17, FBI agents did a records search of all 72 Wal-Mart stores in the Northwest trying to find any large purchases of quarter-ounce fishing weights. An agent on Feb. 12 discovered three such purchases at one Wal-Mart in Colville. Two of those purchases were made with cash and one was made using a debit card owned by Harpham.
“The whole thing went through a sequence of events,” the federal source said, indicating that Harpham was the prime suspect about a month prior to his arrest. “But that was the genesis. It started with the lead weights and the debit card.”
Two days later, federal investigators knew where Harpham lived. While the records don’t indicate when the surveillance began, one notation indicates that a federal agent was watching Harpham on Feb. 19 as he walked with “at least two dogs” at his 10-acre property in a remote area near Addy, Wash.
“He is the prototypical lone wolf,” said the source, referring to domestic terrorists who work independent of any organized movement or group.
Between Feb. 25 and March 4, agents identified 1,139 postings by Harpham on the racist website Vanguard News Network under the user name “Joe Snuffy.”
Then on Feb. 28, investigators obtained Harpham’s DNA profile from samples he provided while serving in the U.S. Army from 1996 to 1999. Within days, the FBI had DNA linking Harpham to the strap of the backpack that contained the bomb found just prior to the march.
The first week of March, agents from all over the country began gathering at a downtown Spokane hotel as search and arrest warrants for Harpham were signed on March 8. The next morning, the agents geared up and headed north.
On the morning of March 9, Harpham drove away from his home at about 8:45 a.m. and noticed a flagger who stopped him and asked him what direction he was driving, according to court records filed by defense attorneys Roger Peven, Kimberly Deater and Kailey Moran.
After directing Harpham to drive across the bridge, a van on the opposite side pulled forward and blocked the road. Harpham then attempted to drive backwards off the bridge.
“Without warning, the bucket, of what appeared to be a back-hoe, came down with full force on the back of Mr. Harpham’s car, breaking out the rear window on impact,” defense attorneys wrote. “The back-hoe then began pushing the car, with Mr. Harpham in it, forward across the bridge and toward the van.
“As this was happening, the van doors opened releasing approximately a dozen men dressed in camouflage and armed with assault rifles.”
Harpham asked what was going on and he was informed that he was under arrest for the bomb found along the march’s planned route. As FBI special agents Joe Cleary and Ryan Butler drove Harpham to the Stevens County Jail, Harpham asked how long the FBI had known about him.
Cleary responded that they just met. “Harpham then said, ‘No, how long have you known about me?’ Agent Cleary did not respond. Mr. Harpham then muttered, ‘About two months,’ ” the defense attorneys wrote.
Searches found indications that Harpham had built a second “practice” bomb that he detonated in a gravel pit. They found how-to books on bomb making and the biography of Timothy McVeigh, who orchestrated the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Harpham faces between 27 and 32 years at his sentencing, scheduled for Nov. 30. On Monday, defense attorneys wrote a motion seeking leniency from U.S. District Court Judge Justin Quackenbush during the upcoming sentencing.
“Mr. Harpham, who has lived an exemplary life until recent events, who has no criminal history, who has been a good son, brother, neighbor, soldier and friend deserves to have this Court take into account the good works that account for the majority of his life,” Peven, Deater and Moran wrote. “He accepts responsibility for his crime and a sentence of 27 years is just punishment for his misdeeds.”
Harpham’s mother, Lana Harpham, wrote in a letter to the judge that her son dropped out of high school his senior year but later earned his GED as well as an associate degree in applied science.
“I know how and what he is,” Lana Harpham wrote. “I am very proud to say he is my son. I would want no other.”
Harpham’s sister, Carmen Harpham, also wrote to the judge saying she had never seen “Kevin be anything but gentle with both people and animals.”
The letters describe family members attempting to understand how the Kevin Harpham they knew – who went great lengths to care for his father and neighbor – would leave a bomb in downtown Spokane.
“There are many things that I have heard over the past nine months regarding my brother’s actions that I cannot explain,” Carmen Harpham wrote. “While I know we do not share a common philosophy about race, I am puzzled at what brought my brother to this point in his life.”
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
greenlibertarian on November 23 at 2:36 a.m.
Yeah, the quiet gentle (mass) murderous types, seen the rat bastards before.
Lock this chump up at HARD TIME for 30 years, no reductions for good behavior.
Lana, you’re deranged.
The monster you whelped may not be (solely) your fault, but I’m guessing you were white trash complicit.
ChiefsFan21 on November 23 at 6:16 a.m.
Are we expected to gobble this propaganda up?
lewis8457 on November 23 at 8:07 a.m.
wouldn’t it be nice if they spent half as much effort investigating all the murder by cops in Spokane then they do nailing this young guy for the bomb the fed planted?
terryalan on November 23 at 8:11 a.m.
First off, 37 isn’t really so young, then of course is your ridiculous conspiracy theory…WHEN I HAVE THE TRUTH…
It was Aliens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope they lock up that rat ba$tard with a BIG black man….
Although that would be a lousy thing to do to the black guy…
The_Seer on November 23 at 8:21 a.m.
lewis: The feds planted the bomb? Really? And Harpham is just a patsy taking the fall? Really?
GaryP on November 23 at 8:47 a.m.
Lewis/others- I have been critical of the SPD in the saluting of Karl Thompson. Why doesn’t anyone give them credit(SPD sgts Hartman and Olsen) for prob saving several lives. Shows you how one sided you are
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on November 23 at 9:16 a.m.
^ GaryP, here’s how things work: SPD gets blame for all bad things that happen, and no credit for any good things. Please make a note of it.
monarch on November 23 at 9:21 a.m.
I remember that one of the complications of this case was that after he was arrested, he wasn’t read his Miranda rights. Anything in the new release of records that sheds more light on that?
Itsgodswill on November 23 at 10:16 a.m.
thatoneguy/GaryP: Isn’t that how it works for every profession? I don’t know anybody who gets praise in the workplace for doing something right, but we all know that if something goes wrong, you better watch out..Not saying that it’s fair for anyone, but why would it be any different for the police? The US (well, not just the US..) is a pretty sick place these days..Most people find more enjoyment in negativity than anything else.
lewis8457 on November 23 at 10:38 a.m.
oh i knew my post would bring the piglets out got you suckers oink oink
Jethro_toll on November 23 at 11:00 a.m.
A true rascist would have waited till the St. Patricks day parade. One shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose their hatred for any one single minority. Well unless its the far right Republicans and far left Democrats.
On another note, this just came in accross the wire.
The SUPER DOOPER Committee has announced in order to help save the economy, the Government next month will direct the Immigration Department to start deporting seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.
Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home.
Lewis your in big trouble.
trustbutverify on November 23 at 11:10 a.m.
Yes this sounds like an excellent piece of local police investigative work and also in working alongside the FBI. I wonder who the two city contract workers that helped were. Kudos to all and yes we should show appreciation and remember when our local police do such a great job.
EthicsinLE on November 23 at 11:38 a.m.
Harpham was fully intent on making the bomb explode. It is ONLY because two city workers found the backpack and SPD changed the route he was unable to. Had it not been for this, he would have been close enough to remote activate the bomb, which would have resulted in many deaths and hundreds of injuries. This is not a man who deserves leniency, in fact given the circumstances and effort he put into making such a destructive device specifically to kill and injure, 32 years is not enough in my opinion. The two city workers and SPD did a great job in averting what could have been a tragedy.
brianrbreen on November 23 at 12:03 p.m.
@EthicsinLE
I disagree with your characterization of the job the two workers and the SPD did in averting a major human caused criminal disaster. In my opinion, it went beyond “great job” to the level of “outstanding job”!
RedCedar on November 23 at 12:12 p.m.
Note to would-be terrorists: when en route to detonate your bomb, be very suspicious of unusual “road work” and inquisitive flaggers.
Shadedmuse on November 23 at 12:32 p.m.
I wish Pres Obama would make me a federal judge because this is the sentence I would issue Kevin would get his choice.
Sentence 1
Federal marshals my pick would be the two Marshall and Mary from in plain sight. They should take Kevin To Admax in Florence Colorado strap kevin to his back pack bomb stand back, Shut cell door and detinate it.
Or
Sentence 2
just throw him in Admax with no food or water with the SHoe Bomber Uni Bomber and terry Mcnickels, tim Mcvay Kevins Mentor was their but was transfered to Terra heault for his date with the needle and Soon Duncan Groene will meet the same needle.
JimmyWhacko on November 23 at 12:38 p.m.
I believe the contract employees who discovered the bomb were let go shortly after, at least they blame them finding the bomb in part for their job loss.
Oh, and Libertarian, this is federal sentencing, so he will get about 13% sentence reduction right away for good time, but there is no federal parole. Of the 13% reduction he can have portions added back on for his behavior in prison.
Shadedmuse on November 23 at 12:42 p.m.
Thier is Federal Payrolle. but Kevin would never get it, if I was the Judge, I Hope Pres Obama makes me a federal Judge.
I have contacted Tim Ormbsy office to give them my Sentancing guidelines, they transfrerd me over to his Brother, and was told to talk to him.
I have donated to his campaon in 2004 2008 2012 and I volunteer on His Campains, I have bought t-shirts and I have even bought the Obama Mug for Birthers, its a Mug that says made in US and has his Birth certificate on it.
crossfire on November 23 at 1:24 p.m.
@JimmyWhacko
I may be wrong but I believe the two contractors were let go because they looked through the bag BEFORE calling police. The implication was they were intending to look for goodies and came across something suspicious and only then called the cops.
Great job though on everyone’s part.
I would hope that next time someone see’s a bag left somewhere they wouldn’t look though it first. It could have been bad if the guy rigged it to blow up upon opening it. There’s a reason bomb disposal doesn’t just go opening suspicious packages that get reported.
oneanddone on November 23 at 2:37 p.m.
This seems, as far as the media is concerned, to be THE story of the century. They’ve run various parts of this story over, and over, and over, AND OVER again. As my sisters would tell me when I annoyed them - get a life.
oneanddone on November 23 at 2:40 p.m.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Shadedmuse - no offense, but please let someone proof read your gobbledegook before you post it. You’re embarrassing the rest of us.
RedCedar on November 23 at 2:46 p.m.
Shadedmuse, I think I can speak for President Obama and Tim Ormsby when I say that I appreciate your willingness to serve the public as a federal judge. Unfortunately the position you’re interested in requires the ability to spell both long and short words correctly.
Hcklbery on November 26 at 9:25 a.m.
The comments mostly expressed here are revealing that they come from those that are NO different than this guy in the hatred and cruelty that lies within their hearts for their fellowman if only given sufficient and necessary impetus to express it.
Hcklbery on November 26 at 9:29 a.m.
I agree he needs to be held accountable and the safety of community needs to be ensured by so doing but I DO NOT WISH HIM OR ANYONE TO “ROT IN HELL”.
THAT sentiment says INFINITELY more about it’s “holder” than the “object” of it’s intent.