Monroe police seek tips about pipe bomb

Published 10:50 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2008

MONROE — Police are asking neighbors for help as they continue to investigate a pipe bomb left on the front door of a firefighter’s home Sunday.

They want to know what people saw, including seemingly innocuous deliveries of newspaper or pizza and any suspicious people or vehicles.

Detectives hope to piece together clues that will lead to whoever may have left the bomb.

“We need eyes and ears out there,” Monroe police Sgt. Rick Dunn said.

Bomb experts with the Washington State Patrol Interagency Bomb Squad on Sunday removed the pipe bomb in the 15400 block of 171st Drive SE in Monroe.

The home is owned by a firefighter, who recognized the device for what it was and called police.

On Tuesday, police passed out a community bulletin to neighbors, hoping they’ll come forward with more information, Dunn said.

Detectives want to know what people saw on Saturday and Sunday. They want to hear from neighbors if anyone saw suspicious people or vehicles, if they happened to get a look at the front door of the home where the bomb was left or if they saw anything else related to the bomb.

By asking specific questions, police hope neighbors will think carefully about what they may have seen.

“We’re trying to spark someone’s interest,” Dunn said.

They want to pinpoint more precisely when the bomb was placed and who might have been in the area, he said.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are helping Monroe police with the investigation.

ATF agents plan to examine the bomb to determine if a federal crime was committed, said special agent Nick Starcevic, an ATF spokesman.

Police have no suspects, Dunn said. By Wednesday afternoon, no one had called in tips.

Now, police hope neighbors will help.

“It’s trying to get more information out to the extent that we can, and get some more leads,” he said.

Help police

Anyone with information regarding a pipe bomb found Sunday in Monroe is asked to contact detective Spencer Robinson with the Monroe Police Department at 360-794-6300. Anonymous information may be left on the department’s tip line at 360-863-4600.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.