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Size of seized cache prompts Yakima police to ask agents to consider domestic terrorism caseYakima Herald-Republic
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- The extent of weapons, drugs and money seized last week is large enough that authorities are considering treating it as a federal case of domestic terrorism.
Thirty-three guns, including two fully automatic weapons, $85,000 in cash, three pipe bombs and hundreds of marijuana plants were seized last Wednesday inside two homes and a storage unit in Yakima.
Police linked all the sites to a 35-year-old Yakima school janitor. Drug charges have been filed against Kevin Michael Kuntz in Yakima County Superior Court, where he's expected to face charges later this week in connection with the pipe bombs.
But the case will be referred to federal investigators because of the bomb-making material and the three live pipe bombs, said Chief Sam Granato, who called it a possible case of domestic terrorism.
"What other reason would people be making bombs for?" Granato said Monday afternoon. "Generally you don't have mercury switches and bomb pipes just laying around the house. That's something that needs to be investigated."
Jessie Summers, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives special agent in Yakima, said his agency will be involved in the case's prosecution.
"We're going to try to take some of those guys federally at YPD's request," he said.
It is unclear how many people are involved in the operation. Yakima police Lt. Tom Foley said during a news conference Monday that three or four other people have been arrested in connection with the case.
Their status, however, was unclear Monday.
At Monday's news conference, police displayed weapons from the raid along with dozens of others confiscated in separate and unrelated gang investigations from recent months.
Among last Wednesday's seizures were an MAC 11 -- a machine-gun pistol -- several AK-47s, homemade silencers, shortened AR-15 rifles, shotguns and a bag full of rolled-up $100 bills.
It began as "a simple dope case," Foley said.
On Wednesday, YPD narcotics officers stopped a vehicle suspected of being involved in transporting drugs to Tacoma. Inside, they found several large freezer bags full of pot -- and $41,000 in cash, authorities said.
Information from there led officers to more drugs, cash and weapons at two homes in the 900 block of South 18th Avenue and the 1100 block of South 20th Avenue and a storage unit in the 3000 block of Castlevale Road.
Granato said Kuntz lived at the 18th Avenue home and may have rented the other two.
Kuntz was charged last week with possession and manufacturing of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, in connection with the 900 indoor marijuana plants and 36 pounds of manufactured marijuana.
A Yakima School District spokeswoman confirmed Monday that Kuntz is a custodial employee for the district but could not immediately say what school he works for.
A man who answered a phone at another residence where Kuntz is listed in the telephone book declined to comment for this story.
* Melissa Sánchez can be reached at 509-577-7675 or msanchez@yakimaherald.com.
A Yakima School District spokeswoman confirmed Monday that Kuntz is a custodial employee for the district but could not immediately say what school he works for.
Why not??? As spokeswoman for the district it would take less than 3 minutes to access this information. The police released his name and it's highly unlikely Kuntz will be returning to work when school starts, so is there a legal reason for holding back information on what school he worked at?
"spokesWOMAN"... I always get a kick out of political correctness and have to laugh at the absurdness of the whole issue on occasion. In many instances it's not politically correct to use the word 'spokesMAN' because it is considered by many to be demeaning of the opposite sex and their perceived status. But usually when it's a female 'spokesPERSON' it's reported as 'spokesWOMAN'. Women should be outraged and speaking up that the political correct word should be 'spokesPERSON' but doubt you'd ever hear that because it would effectively neuter them and drop their prestige level a notch. Go figure.
Report ViolationSpokespersons are basically a "mouth" for an organization and do what they're told... say nothing but talk a lot. She probably knows what school this guy works at but is under orders to keep it under wraps until the school district figures out a plan of response. Next it will be "it's a personnel matter and we are unable to discuss this individual in order to protect both him and the district."
Report ViolationTch Tch..Conch..it is spokesperson. That use of the word spokeswoman is an error of the reporter. The women leave the nueturing to men who don't think before they open their mouths.
Umm - what difference does it make what school he worked at? How is that relevant to the story? He could have worked at any of the schools and the story is still the same - bad man, criminal, who knew. And yes, it is spokesperson - those who have an issue with the "PC" aspect of titles were neutered long ago - self inflicted or via bad parenting.
Report ViolationThere is a possibility of "domestic terrorism". Why can't you focus on the real subject without going off on your silly tangents?
Report ViolationYakRob...
"Umm - what difference does it make what school he worked at?"....
I imagine most parents with children attending one or more of our Yakima Schools asked themselves "What school??" after reading this story. I'm just saying the district could have put alot of parents mind at ease by saying what school. Employees of YSD knew immediately what school he worked at when they read his name. Parents needed to know also...(in my opinion).
My goodness,what if he had worked at Wal-Mart.
Just where would we shop!!!
Hey, I wonder if he's an illegal.
Report Violationno comments from sjuan, nick, jarhead , or countryvet, hmmm.
no comments from sjuan, nick, jarhead , or countryvet, hmmm.
Exactly what I was thinking ForYourInfo. If that dude's name was Gonzalez, they'd each have three comments calling for the deportation of "them criminals" (illegals).
Report ViolationThey are probably calling for deportation constantly because in reality they are a slumlord who gets double rent for a mold infested shack rented to a migrant and this is part of their disinformation campaign.
After all, Nick thinks he's pretty important with his "I have iinside information," blah, blah blah
Correction Rob...
In my opinion, parents would "appreciate" knowing all of the facts...
(not... needed to know) bad wording on my part.
If Benjamin Soria were a conservative, this headline, a day before an election, would have read:
"MAN LINKED TO FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SORIA ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM"
What did Soria know? When did he know it?
Foolmeonce...
My goodness,what if he had worked at Wal-Mart.
Just where would we shop!!!
Give parents a little more credit than that...after all, they pay taxes and vote for the levies and bonds... don't they? It's a matter of YSD feeling they need to "manage" the news for "damage control". It's not likely parents would change their childs school because of this, but thats probably where the districts thinking was at when they didn't release the name of the school. (in my opinion)
Um, I don't see anything in the story about the guys race or ethnicity (because your name determines that right?). All the raced based blogs need to log off! Let's focus on getting rid or dirtbag criminals.
Report ViolationYes Kevin is white. He comes from a wealthy family and i dont undertstand why a guy who had everything as a kid and did well in highschool gets involved with this. I was very close with him from middle school and high school and have seen or spoke to him in years. I have to say that all the years i knew him i would never guess this is what he would do as a adult. Sorry to say but he deserves what he gets in prison. I have zero tolerance for anyone who is involved in the drug trade. Sorry Kevin hope the ride was worth it. See ya in about 30 years.
Report ViolationI can understand why some people who are confused about gender in their private lives want all references to gender to vanish in a sea of PC mind control. Talk about bad parenting and self-inflicted neutering. Tell us all about it dude!
This story is a significant milestone because this the 2nd non-mexican involved in a major crime around here in the last several months. Let's see, 2 out of about 46 major crimes committed by non-mexicans.
I wonder if this is the beginning of a trend?
Why are everything police related, do we always have to hear about Sam this and Sam that. And then on these stupid blogs some old neo-nazi @#$% get,s in and start's adding things alluding to that Sam is some kind of lothario loverboy.
Why can't we in Yaima enjoy the pleasantries of looking at a handsome cop? Is that so much to ask for God's sakes. Ct. Light looks pretty good and I've seen three Lt.s and they look pretty good.
It seems like it would sell alot more newspapers. Is it really so much to ask, or is he some sort of deluded megalomaniac and can't stand to have the spot light on someone else. It's to bad that the one city shrink left town right after hanging up his license, it seems like there might have been one more job here for him.
It seems clear majority of Yakima residents, police and chief included are oblivious or unaware that over half the parents and staff are on drugs or prescription medication, our own children included. The behavior of Kevin isn't uncommon in your valley. Mr Kunts seems t have developed a way to turn a dollar, adhere to the school district schedule without hurting or affecting students, staff or anyone but ultimately himself. So he was a collector of rare arms etc, big deal. He certainly is not a terrorist, he simply developed his way to generate revenue. Working for the city, the district or the state is a pathetic way to live and is a lethargic existence. Go to bed early folks you probably have to work for someone in the morning.
Report ViolationI think it's appropriate that Sam's big bust gets stuck on the second section of the paper.
And what's going on at the police station? I thought they are supposed to rotate things and Schneider's been Chief of Detectives for 10 years and Costello's been Head of Narcotics for 10 years.
And if you do make a change don't put Foley on this, he's too busy with his gun bust.
Actually, guys, I just saw the article! So I'm a little late in commenting. Bad is Bad. My concern is how far this conspiracy goes, because that is what it is, a conspiracy! Think of the damage that could have happened if the bombs had been planted at the school where he works. This just furthers my point, Legend, we have enough of our own criminals to deal with w/o adding the illegal immigrants to the mix!
Report ViolationKevin Michael Kuntz thats weird that name dont sound Mexican so they must have a misprint...........
Report ViolationYou know, I'm truly sorry for these posts, but I'm getting sick of hearing about Sam all the time. One day he's a Hispanic version of 007, the next he's frolicking playfully with "potential gangster" children and turning them into straight A students, and another day a Lothario loverboy.
It may be a shock, but I think it would be perfectly legal to start a non-profit corporation where you go door to door, anywhere, or advertise anywhere, that you are taking donations for a policeman's legal fund to protect our cops from their own chief.
Please, news reporters, can you stick the stories of our Hispanic Pillsbury dough boy in the third section or with the garage sale ads.
Give me a break from Sam, (Scheider, too) and you'll be getting a break from me. There is just no way that anybody can be made to entertain the notion of them as "supercops".
Didn't Schnidely bring in his own @#$% flick starring himself 10 years ago?
We've got some great cops that the public is dying to see why aren't we getting a chance to refresh our eyes and our souls?
This is all so crazy.....Kevin is my next door nieghbor (for 3 years), never would have known that he led the life he did. He is/was a very nice guy.
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