Latest news with #Lacey
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Disturbing Nazi haul is found inside unsuspecting suburban home
Investigators seized a disturbing cache of Nazi paraphernalia, machine guns, grenade launchers and armor during the raid of a quiet suburban home in Washington state. Charles Ethan Fields, 26, and Levi Austin Frakes, 27, were arrested Tuesday night after an FBI special weapons and tactics team swarmed on their residence in Lacey, near the state capitol of Olympia. Officers raided the duo's home in connection to their investigation into a 'violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor' at a nearby military base. Agents seized 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles, handguns, and a MG42 machine gun, a type typically supported with a bipod and was used by German troops during World War II. They also seized various explosives, body armor, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and other equipment, some of which was restricted Army-issued munitions, according a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail. The weapons were stored in the phone alongside Nazi flags and paraphernalia and the pair were 'actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts', Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said. The federal complaint filed Wednesday in US District Court charges Fields and Frakes with robbery, assault and theft of government property. Fields and Frakes, who are former military members, also face investigation on state charges of unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles and a machine gun. Fields and Frakes entered Joint Base Lewis-McCord Sunday evening, partially masked and were wearing Army Rangers fitness attire, the complaint states. An Army Ranger found the pair inside the Central Operations Facility with a cluster of military property around them, prosecutors claim. The soldier confronted the duo and a fight ensued with one of the suspects allegedly brandishing a hammer and using it to assault the officer. The suspect struck the soldier in his head and torso, causing 'bodily harm' and a 'large amount of blood loss', according to the complaint. The soldier fought back and managed to gain control of the hammer, but one of the suspects pulled out a knife. The victim surrendered and the pair fled the compound with a cache of government property worth estimated $14,000, prosecutors allege. Surveillance cameras captured the duo as they fled. The pair allegedly dropped two backpacks and a hat with the name 'Fields' written inside as they tried to escape. In addition to the slew of weapons, police found white supremacy memorabilia, murals, and literature in every bedroom of the home Investigators found a bolt cutter, latex gloves and disposable face masks at the scene. Officials believe the duo 'likely used the bolt cutter to gain access into the facility', the complaint states. Using base entry logs and surveillance video, investigators determined that Fields and Frakes had entered Lewis-McChord together about an hour before the attack, investigators said. Additionally, the wounded soldier, who required hospital treatment, told investigators that he asked around his unit about the name Fields after finding it on the hat. The soldier learned that Fields had been assigned to the Ranger Battalion around 2021, and he was able to identify him as one of the attackers based on photos shown to him by others in his unit, the complaint said. The complaint did not include details of Frakes' military service. The FBI executed a search warrant at a home shared by the defendants on Monday and arrested them. In addition to the slew of weapons, police found white supremacy memorabilia, murals, and literature in every bedroom of the home. They also seized personal electronic devices, clothing believed to be worn during the assault, and approximately $24,000 in cash. One of the defendants told investigators they had been stealing equipment from the base for the past two years to sell or trade, the complaint states. Fields and Frakes are each being held at the Pierce County Jail on $500,000 bail.
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say
Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say. Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday night at their home in Lacey, near Olympia, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Federal court records did not list an attorney for either man. One of the defendants told investigators they had been stealing equipment from the base for the past two years to sell or trade, and agents found about $24,000 in cash at the home, wrote Special Agent Christopher J. Raguse of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The federal complaint charges them with robbery, assault and theft of government property. They also face investigation on state charges of unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles and a machine gun. Each was being held at the Pierce County Jail on $500,000 bail. According to the complaint, a soldier entered a building at the Army Ranger compound at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Sunday night and found two men, partially masked, with a cluster of U.S. Army property around them. The soldier questioned them about what they were doing and told them to pull down their masks, which they did. A fight ensued, and one of the men brandished a hammer and struck the soldier in the head. The soldier continued to fight despite losing a large amount of blood and managed to get control of the hammer — at which point, one of the men pulled a knife. The soldier then let them go, the complaint said. During the fight, one of the men dropped his hat. It said 'Fields' on the inside. Using base entry logs and surveillance video, investigators determined that Fields and Frakes had entered Lewis-McChord together about an hour before the attack, investigators said. Additionally, the wounded soldier, who required hospital treatment, told investigators that he asked around his unit about the name Fields after finding it on the hat. The soldier learned that Fields had been assigned to the Ranger Battalion around 2021, and he was able to identify him as one of the attackers based on photos shown to him by others in his unit, the complaint said. The complaint did not include details of Frakes' military service. The FBI executed a search warrant at a home shared by the defendants on Monday and arrested them. Agents found rifles positioned at the upstairs windows, the complaint said. Authorities said agents seized about 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun — a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II. Other seized gear included grenade launchers, Army-issued explosives, body armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, authorities said. Photos from inside the home showed Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika.
Associated Press
a day ago
- General
- Associated Press
2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say
SEATTLE (AP) — Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say. Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday night at their home in Lacey, near Olympia, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Federal court records did not list an attorney for either man. One of the defendants told investigators they had been stealing equipment from the base for the past two years to sell or trade, and agents found about $24,000 in cash at the home, wrote Special Agent Christopher J. Raguse of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The federal complaint charges them with robbery, assault and theft of government property. They also face investigation on state charges of unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles and a machine gun. Each was being held at the Pierce County Jail on $500,000 bail. According to the complaint, a soldier entered a building at the Army Ranger compound at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Sunday night and found two men, partially masked, with a cluster of U.S. Army property around them. The soldier questioned them about what they were doing and told them to pull down their masks, which they did. A fight ensued, and one of the men brandished a hammer and struck the soldier in the head. The soldier continued to fight despite losing a large amount of blood and managed to get control of the hammer — at which point, one of the men pulled a knife. The soldier then let them go, the complaint said. During the fight, one of the men dropped his hat. It said 'Fields' on the inside. Using base entry logs and surveillance video, investigators determined that Fields and Frakes had entered Lewis-McChord together about an hour before the attack, investigators said. Additionally, the wounded soldier, who required hospital treatment, told investigators that he asked around his unit about the name Fields after finding it on the hat. The soldier learned that Fields had been assigned to the Ranger Battalion around 2021, and he was able to identify him as one of the attackers based on photos shown to him by others in his unit, the complaint said. The complaint did not include details of Frakes' military service. The FBI executed a search warrant at a home shared by the defendants on Monday and arrested them. Agents found rifles positioned at the upstairs windows, the complaint said. Authorities said agents seized about 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun — a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II. Other seized gear included grenade launchers, Army-issued explosives, body armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, authorities said. Photos from inside the home showed Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
FBI discovers cache of guns, armor and Nazi paraphernalia while raiding home in Washington state
SEATTLE (AP) — Law enforcement discovered a cache of weaponry and armor, including a machine gun and grenade launchers, along with Nazi paraphernalia during a raid of a home in Washington state, authorities said Tuesday. Derek Sanders, the elected sheriff of Thurston County, said in a Facebook post that the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division asked his office for assistance Monday as an FBI special weapons and tactics team executed a search warrant in Lacey, near the state capitol of Olympia, 'as a result of a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor.' The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the search warrant related to an Army CID and FBI investigation into an assault Sunday at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, just north of Olympia. Sanders' statement said two people were arrested and booked into Thurston County Jail for investigation of firearms-related offenses. 'The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts,' he wrote. Sanders did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday night. The U.S. Attorney's Office statement said Army investigators had identified suspects in the assault at the military base and the FBI executed the search warrant late Monday night into early Tuesday. Reached for comment, the FBI said its Seattle office was 'assisting our partners Thurston County Sheriff's Office and Army Criminal Investigation Division' and referred questions to them. Additional information was expected to be included in a federal criminal complaint to be unsealed Wednesday. The two people arrested were expected to make initial appearances at U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon. In his post, Sanders said agents had seized 35 firearms at the home, including short barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun — a type typically supported with a bipod and which was used by German troops during World War II. Other seized gear included grenade launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, and multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence, the sheriff said. He posted photos from the home showing an array of weapons, ammunition and body armor surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boy who died in mobile home fire attended Olympia High School, principal announces
A 17-year-old boy who died in a mobile home fire Tuesday morning attended Olympia High School, the principal announced in a message to families Friday afternoon. Niland Woods and his half-sister, Emerson Smith, 10, who also was known as 'Emma,' died in an overnight fire at the Edgelake Mobile Home Park in Lacey, which is located between Chambers Lake and the Chehalis Western Trail. 'It is with deep sadness that I share that Niland Woods, an eleventh-grade student at Olympia High School, tragically passed away early Tuesday morning, May 27,' Principal Matt Grant said in his message. 'Niland was a thoughtful and engaged student, and he will be missed by many in our school community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who knew and cared about him. 'Our counseling team and support staff will be available to students when they return to campus. We encourage you to check in with your student and reach out to our school counselors if your student needs additional support. 'We've put together a list of Critical Response Community Resources to support families as they navigate grief and loss. You are welcome to share this information with your family as you feel appropriate. 'Thank you for taking care of yourselves and one another during this difficult time.' Woods and Smith died in the fire, but their mother Sarah Bullington, managed to escape the blaze. A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched to help her. The boy and girl died as a result of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said Friday.
