and then this too....


Bomb squad called after bicyclist stopped
Fleeing subject allegedly threw explosives, syringes
Wednesday, October 22, 2003

By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

A bicyclist stopped by police on Garfield Lane ended up causing quite a commotion, bringing dozens of police officers and the county bomb squad to the scene.

It took a foot pursuit, a scuffle and a dose of pepper spray to take Shane Michael Newhouse, 30, of Napa into custody.

The chain of events started around 8 p.m., Monday, when a sheriff's deputy spotted Newhouse riding his bicycle without the proper lights for riding at night, sheriff's Capt. Mike Loughran said.

As the deputy drove by Newhouse, he recognized him from prior contacts, he said.

When the deputy stopped Newhouse, he became irate and aggressive and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Loughran said. "He got off the bike, then attempted to get on it like he was going to leave, jumped off again and pushed it toward the deputy. He ran away down an alley off Garfield Lane."

The deputy took off after Newhouse, who was throwing things on the ground as he ran, Loughran said.

When the deputy finally caught up with Newhouse, he ordered him to the ground, he said. "Newhouse refused and hit the deputy in the head with his fists."

Back-up units arrived, and after a dousing of pepper spray, Newhouse was taken into custody.

He was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released to the custody of the sheriff's department, Loughran said.

The deputy suffered cuts and bruises and was treated at the Queen and released, Loughran said.

Meanwhile, other deputies and police searched the alley looking for the items Newhouse discarded as he jogged down the pavement.

In addition to finding several syringes, a crank smoking pipe and a .40-caliber Winchester rifle bullet, they also found an old military smoke grenade, Loughran said.

"It burns hot when activated. It would have torched the field if he had thrown it into the dry grass," Loughran said.

The Napa County Hazardous Device Disposal Team was called to detonate the explosive.

The area was cordoned off with yellow tape, and one family, who lives nearby, was evacuated, Loughran said.

The grenade was detonated, and the family was allowed to return to their home around 10 p.m.

Other than the deputy, no one was hurt.

Newhouse was arrested on suspicion of felony battery upon a peace officer, being a felon in possession of ammunition, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.