Third Suspect Arrested In Explosives Theft Agents Still Are Looking For 100 Pounds Of Explosive Stick Powder And One Roll Of Detonator Cord
Following an arrest Saturday, three suspects now are in jail facing federal charges of possessing explosives stolen from a North Idaho mine.
The third suspect arrested in five days was nabbed Saturday afternoon by federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms agents outside a home in Post Falls.
Joseph Earle Tepner-Galland, 26, of Coeur d’Alene, will be given an initial court appearance today in Spokane before U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno.
Tepner-Galland, who goes by the nickname “Jet,” is charged in a federal complaint with possession of stolen explosives.
ATF agents still are looking for 100 pounds of explosive stick powder and one roll of detonator cord stolen from the Lucky Friday mine two weeks ago.
About 400 pounds of the explosives and some of the detonator cord were recovered Wednesday south of Sandpoint.
Two or more suspects are still being sought, said ATF senior agent Herb Byerly.
“We feel good about the way things are going, and so does the sheriff of Shoshone County,” Byerly said.
Shoshone County Sheriff Dan Schierman and ATF agents are processing tips that have followed a $2,000 reward offer from Hecla Mining Co. for the safe return of its explosives. Hecla owns the Lucky Friday silver mine, near Mullan.
Kent Allen Johnson, 31, of Post Falls, was arrested Monday, and Corey Lee Miller, 34, of Osburn, was arrested the following day, both in North Idaho.
They are acquaintances of Tepner-Galland, who lives at 2011 15th in Coeur d’Alene, agents said.
ATF agents, working with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Department, learned about Tepner-Galland’s possible involvement in the explosives theft and went to Post Falls looking for him.
When ATF agents and Post Falls police told the suspect to halt outside the Post Falls residence, he ran inside.
As a half-dozen officers surrounded the home, the suspect came back outside and surrendered about two minutes later, about 1:45 p.m., authorities said.
He was not armed.
Officers questioned two occupants of the residence, but no other arrests were made.
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