Bust near school nets drugs, guns

A nine-time convicted felon and reputed white supremacist got a wake-up call Friday morning from the Spokane police SWAT team, which took him into custody after finding drugs, guns, counterfeit money and $200,000 worth of stolen electronics in his house.

Kevin R. Chastain, 33, was arrested and three others released after the SWAT team converged on a house at 27 S. Haven St. The house is across the intersection from a building that contains Spokane Public Schools’ Libby Center, for gifted students, and the Spokane Virtual Learning Center.

“The suspect had video surveillance that could have compromised the safety of our officers,” Spokane police Chief Frank Straub said at a news conference. “Just yesterday, I said the Spokane Police Department will not tolerate violence in our community.”

Straub said Chastain had converted the basement of the home to a shooting gallery. During the raid, detectives found drugs, drug paraphernalia, three handguns, a shotgun and several counterfeit $20 bills in various degrees of reproduction.

In addition, the detectives found cases of electronic equipment used to analyze and monitor the effectiveness of cellphone towers. That equipment, valued by police at $200,000, was taken from a utility truck stolen in north Spokane.

Straub said he contacted federal investigators about both the guns and counterfeit money and that Chastain may also face federal charges stemming from the raid.

“This is a bad actor living a few hundred feet away from where children are going to school,” Straub said. “We will not tolerate this type of activity in our neighborhoods.”