SPOKANE -- Police say the device found in North Spokane Wednesday evening was a pipe bomb.
Spokane Police knocked on the door of a duplex around 5:20 p.m. at Cora Court and Alice. They were there to arrest 25-year-old Michael J. Paukert. He is wanted for a parole violation after he was charged for first degree rape.
Police said Paukert refused to come out. Police said they were concerned that he could be armed. They called in a SWAT team and, Paukert gave up about one-and-a-half hours after the standoff began. Police said a woman and a child were also in the duplex at the time. Police have not said if Paukert was visiting or living at the duplex.
Police then got a tip that a possible explosive device was in the garage. Upon further investigation, police said they did find an improvised explosive device later determined to be a pipe bomb.
Five homes were evacuated and people were pushed back for their safety. The bomb squad moved in to render the device safe. By 5:30 a.m., police determined the device was safe.
Michael Markwardt, one of Paukert’s neighbors, says he always felt Paukert was a nice person, but now he's angry with him.
Mike could not enter his home until 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning. He and other neighbors were kept far away as the Spokane County Bomb Squad checked out a suspicious device.
Spokane Police tell us it's up to the FBI to determine whether to bring additional charges pending the outcome of the investigation of the device.
