Bail reduced for suspect in arson

A Kootenai County magistrate reduced bail by a half-million dollars for Richard Hanlon, a Post Falls bar owner charged with burning down a competing bar.

Meanwhile, Post Falls police said Thursday they haven’t reviewed a surveillance video they touted at a press conference Wednesday as being strong evidence in the case.

Post Falls police are waiting on equipment to enable them to review the footage, which was taken from inside Capone’s Pub and Grill in Post Falls. Though the surveillance equipment was destroyed in the July 25 fire, the hard drive with footage was not, Post Falls police Lt. Greg McLean said.

McLean on Thursday said although authorities have yet to review the footage, it’s anticipated to be significant in the arson case.

Hanlon’s attorney, Jim Siebe, asked Magistrate Eugene Marano to reduce Hanlon’s bail from $750,000 to $25,000. Marano instead set Hanlon’s bail at $250,000 and gave Hanlon multiple restrictions should he be released on bail.

Marano ordered Hanlon to turn in any passports he may have and to give Siebe the proof of liquor licenses for his Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene bars to hold until further notice.

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Ken Stone said Thursday that the $750,000 bail set for Hanlon was appropriate “given the horrendousness of the crime.”

But Siebe said the 50-year-old owner of Paddy’s bar didn’t flee when he learned he was under investigation for the fire that destroyed Capone’s.

Siebe said Hanlon provided a saliva sample to detectives for DNA testing and passed a polygraph exam that was administered by an examiner Siebe hired.

The results from that exam were sent to investigators in August before a warrant was issued for Hanlon’s arrest on burglary and arson charges, Siebe said.

After Hanlon’s arrest Wednesday, Post Falls police said numerous people had tipped off police to burns on Hanlon’s legs following the Capone’s arson.

He told police he’d suffered the burns from spilled cooking oil. A pair of oil-soaked pants were seized by police after a search warrant was served at Hanlon’s home.

McLean, of the Post Falls police, said the pants smelled like french fries.

Siebe said Thursday, “(Hanlon) had burns from spilled cooking oil.” The attorney said earlier police statements indicated an accelerant – likely petroleum-based – was used in the arson.

Though police said Hanlon suffered second- to third-degree burns and didn’t seek treatment, Siebe said the burns were not that serious.

Hanlon has maintained his innocence, and Siebe said that was one of the reasons a polygraph was administered.

Only a few questions were asked in the polygraph and only minimal information from the test was provided to investigators, McLean said.

Neither Siebe nor police would discuss evidence in detail. In a press conference Wednesday, a pair of burned running shoes found at the scene and the surveillance footage were touted as strong evidence.

The shoes were sent to a lab for DNA testing. Though Hanlon submitted a saliva sample for DNA testing, neither police nor Siebe would say whether there was a match.

“We haven’t been furnished anything in terms of police reports and results,” Siebe said.

The owners of Capone’s are rebuilding and plan to reopen by January or February.