GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) – Police on Tuesday arrested a man and seized several weapons and a potential explosive device as part of a search warrant lead by the Gresham Police Department.
Christopher Norwood Young was taken into custody at his home in the 16600 block of Northeast Wasco Street. Detectives had been investigating him as part of a “scheme” in which he would take people interested in buying machinery to local construction job sites. When a customer would express interest in a particular item, Young, 28, would set up payment and then steal the machinery, according to police. In one case, Young allegedly made $30,000 from selling stolen property.
“He would solicit people on Craigslist and he actually met them at the job site,” Gresham Police Detective and spokesperson Brandon Crate told KOIN 6 News.
Gresham Police Detective Tony Cobb said, “Young would target items such as front loaders and skid steer tractors. These stolen tractors would be sold to unsuspecting buyers for as little as $9,000 and as much as $30,000.”
During a search warrant at Young’s residence in June, police discovered evidence that suggested he was in possession of illegal firearms and possibly hand grenades and other explosives.
“It looked like he was in possession of the weapons illegally,” Crate said. “We want to get that off the street as soon as practical and that’s what we did with this case.”
Investigators learned it was likely that Young was in possession of a fully automatic AR-15 rifle and numerous other firearms. Police determined that he was firing both inside his residence into a 50 gallon drum style barrel and in the backyard.
Young also had manufactured several homemade suppressors in which he used to muffle the sounds of the guns firing.
Christopher Young faces 39 charges:
– One count of possessing a destructive device
– One count of manufacturing a destructive device
– One count of attempted manufacture of a destructive device
– 3 counts of possessing an illegal weapon
– 3 counts of identity theft
– One count of unlawful use of a weapon
– 8 counts of discharging a firearm in the city
– 2 counts of theft
– 5 counts of aggravated theft
– 7 counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
– 7 counts of possessing a stolen vehicle
Three SWAT teams and bomb techs made sure Young’s residence was safe before detectives went inside. Police confirm a potential explosive device, described as a pipe bomb, was located. Police are still working to determine whether or not it posed a danger.
The investigation into Young’s illegal firearms revealed that he had several assault rifles that he did not have federally registered, according to police.
“Based on evidence that we seized during the initial investigation…this individual was actually firing these weapons at his residence,” Crate said. “He was using some type of suppressive device so that rounds would not be as loud. No one would hear them.”
Police also developed information that suggested Young had made comments about wanting to shoot up a school.
“We know that he lived close to a school, and that’s obviously concerning to us,” Crate said. “That’s why we wanted to move on this as quickly as possible before school was back and in session.”
Police cautioned on Tuesday that they were still sorting out the credibility of that information, but said any time they get reports that someone wants to cause harm and has access to weapons or explosives, police have to treat the matter seriously.
Tuesday’s search warrant uncovered 9 handguns, 7 rifles which includes an AR-15 and an AK47 assault rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 2 homemade suppressors, and a pipe bomb and the components to construct other devices.
Young is expected to make his first court appearance at the Multnomah County Justice Center on Wednesday afternoon.
A second suspect, Fabian Peniche, was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon.