Originally published January 23, 2009 at 12:17 PM | Page modified January 24, 2009 at 12:52 AM

NEW - Introducing two new blogs

Go beyond the headlines on cops and courts.

Exploring philanthropy, non-profits and socially motivated business.

Judge detains man accused of keeping arsenal in Bellevue locker

A man who allegedly kept a massive arsenal of machine guns, grenades and plastic explosives in a Bellevue storage locker has been ordered detained pending his trial.

By The Associated Press

A man who allegedly kept a massive arsenal of machine guns, grenades and plastic explosives in a Bellevue storage locker has been ordered detained pending his trial.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler determined in court this morning that 65-year-old Ronald Struve of Spokane posed a risk of flight and a danger to the community.

Prosecutors say Struve stored the 37 machine guns, two grenade launchers, 54 grenades and C-4 plastic explosives in the storage locker. They say a fire could have been disastrous.

The arsenal came to light after Struve failed to pay his storage fees. Someone else bought the contents of the locker at auction and alerted federal agents.

A defense lawyer says Struve has never been arrested before, has had the Vietnam-era weapons for decades, and didn't intend to hurt anyone. The lawyer says there's no evidence Struve is anything but a loner with some unusual anti-government political views.

More Local News headlines...

Print Share: Digg Newsvine