Bomb In Truck Forces Evacuation Of Homes Explosive Device Found After Driver Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge

Kootenai County sheriff’s officials evacuated two homes Wednesday morning after they found a bomb in a Coeur d’Alene man’s truck.

Deputies discovered the small explosive device after arresting the driver, Charles L. Walker, 32, on a drunken driving charge.

Michael T. Smith, a passenger in Walker’s vehicle, told deputies the two men planned to blast stumps at a job site with the bomb.

However, the type of bomb found in Walker’s truck typically is not used for blasting stumps, said Bob Harper of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms office in Spokane.

“I know of no legitimate use for such a device,” he said. “It’s used to kill or maim.”

The bomb had a short fuse, was 9 inches long and about 1-1/2 inches in diameter, according to the sheriff’s report.

Smith, 34, of Coeur d’Alene, told deputies that he and Walker had made it by wrapping duct tape around a mixture of black powder, glue and sharp objects such as nails and screws.

Deputies pulled over Walker and Smith at 1 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of state Highway 53 and Hauser Lake Road. Walker’s truck had been swerving across both traffic lanes and nearly had left the road, according to the sheriff’s report.

When deputies arrested Walker on charges of drunken driving and driving without a license, Smith told them there was a bomb in the truck.

The Spokane bomb squad and ATF were called. State Highway 53 was closed while the device was removed and disabled. Two homes also were evacuated in case the bomb exploded and shattered the windows, Harper said.

Harper said the bomb was not powerful enough to blow up a building. However, “if a device like that went off inside a car, it would do substantial damage and could result in serious injury or death to the person inside the car,” he said.

Harper said he does not know why the men had the explosive but said those wanting to blast stumps usually buy a stick of dynamite, a blasting cap and a safety fuse, following federal regulations.

It is not against Idaho law to possess, manufacture or transport explosive devices. However, federal law prohibits possession of destructive devices, according to ATF officials.

Neither Walker nor Smith has been charged with any crimes in connection with the bomb. Harper said the ATF will complete its investigation and then send the information to the U.S. attorney’s office in Boise for possible criminal charges.

Walker could not be reached for comment. He was being held Wednesday in the Kootenai County Jail.

“We’ve probably had at least a half a dozen similar devices in the past year,” Harper said.

, DataTimes