EVERETT — An Everett-area man is accused of selling undercover police a bunch of firearms and janky grenades. The latter had been doctored at home with tape and epoxy.
He was arrested Wednesday by Seattle police after a months-long operation. He remained in the Snohomish County Jail on Friday, his bail set at $100,000.
The man, 32, is accused of multiple crimes involving explosives, along with trafficking in stolen property and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court records list addresses for him in Everett, Sultan and Seattle.
Detectives from Seattle began investigating a stolen guns ring in July, according to the arrest report. They were told the man had inventory, prompting a meetup in September on Everett Mall Way. At some point, the group moved to Broadway to continue their discussion.
There, the man reportedly sold an undercover officer a military-grade assault rifle and a pistol. The rifle later was determined to be stolen. The transaction also included four anti-personnel grenades, known for their resemblance to pineapples.
The man allegedly said he had 100 more grenades available, which he could fill with an explosive powder mix.
An officer paid $1,110 for the first round of loot, according to the report. The suspect allegedly floated the idea of burglarizing the home of a firearms dealer to get more guns.
Later, explosive experts from the FBI confirmed his devices were viable. The grenades were designed for training exercises but could be altered with the powder to become similar to a pipe bomb, according to the report.
In September, the officer met with a woman on Broadway, who was carrying grenades for the suspect. The officer paid $920 for five grenades, four fuses and the woman’s third-party transaction fee.
The next month, another purchase was planned at a hotel between Everett and Lynnwood. The suspect brought rifles, a pistol and a shotgun. He said he had more grenades to sell, but they were in storage and a friend needed to finish welding the pieces together. The following day, another half-dozen firearms changed hands, including a sawed-off shotgun.
On Oct. 20, the officer purchased four grenades that appeared to be sealed with household epoxy and topped with white tape.
The man allegedly warned the officer that some of the powder needed to be removed before the grenades were assembled, so they wouldn’t detonate prematurely. The officer asked for the man’s assistance, but he declined, “claiming the devices were too unstable,” the report says.
The papers filed in Everett District Court do not describe the circumstances of the recent arrest. The man was not the only suspect targeted in the regional sting.
Reporter Caitlin Tompkins contributed to this story.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
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