A Stevenson, Wash., man who allegedly attached an explosive to his dog's neck before detonating it calmly told police that he blew up the animal because his ex-girlfriend had "put the devil in it," court documents indicate.
Christopher Wayne Dillingham, 45, also told police that he was preparing for "the rapture" and was throwing household items onto his lawn when officers arrived to investigate an early-morning explosion outside his home, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Dillingham's son and his son's friend were asleep in the house along Loop Road in northwest Stevenson at the time, but had slept through the blast, according to the affidavit written by Skamania County Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Ejde.
The boys said Dillingham woke them up, yelling at them for help moving coins and a couch out of the house, the affidavit states, before Dillingham then threw the couch out the window. The two, scared by Dillingham, then went to Dillingham's brother's home about 40 yards away, the affidavit states.
Dillingham appeared in court Monday to face two charges of reckless endangerment and one felony count of possessing a bomb or explosive device with intent to use it for an unlawful purpose. Skamania County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Kick said his office is still considering charges for the death of the dog, which was decapitated by the explosive.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m., according to the court filings. Several neighbors called 911 to report hearing what sounded like either a high-powered rifle or loud explosion.
Dillingham, who operates Thundershack Fireworks just across the Bridge of the Gods from Cascade Locks, told police that he had made the device from black powder taken from fireworks, according to the affidavit.
As he put the device around his dog, which had been given to him by his ex-girlfriend, he distracted the animal by giving it treats, the affidavit states. Dillingham then went behind a wall and detonated the device, he told officers.
He is being held in the Skamania County Jail on $500,000 bail, and his next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 15.
The company's description on its Facebook page calls Thundershack "wicked fireworks for the 4th."
Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metro Bomb Squad assisted deputies from Skamania County Sheriff's Office.
Dillingham's fireworks business has faced state tax warrants for unpaid taxes totaling more than $15,500 in all but one of the past eight years, said a Skamania County Court clerk. All but about $5,200 for 2011 and 2013 taxes has been paid.
-- Helen Jung
-- Kimberly A.C. Wilson
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