Man arrested on explosive, other charges

SPOKANE VALLEY – A man who allegedly lied to law enforcement officers about his name was arrested Aug. 15 on outstanding warrants and for possession of an explosive.

Michael W. Coniconde, 39, was arrested after deputies checking out a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot on North Pines Road learned he had a felony arrest warrant issued for his arrest in Idaho.

Coniconde, the driver, initially lied about his identity, a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office report said. But deputies discovered his true name and found he had a valid felony Idaho warrant for his arrest. 

During a search, deputies discovered what appeared to be two altered CO2 canisters, which they believed were improvised explosives. 

The Spokane Regional Explosives Disposal Unit responded, confirmed the devices had explosive ability, and rendered them safe, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Coniconde was arrested for the felony out-of-state warrant, possession of explosives without a license (felony) and making false statements to law enforcement. 

The incident began at approximately 7:30 p.m., when Deputy N. Bajric observed a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in the 2500 block of North Pines Road, the report said. Seeing an a man in the drivers seet and a female passenger slumped over inside the car, he decided to conduct a welfare check.    

He positioned his patrol vehicle directly behind the Subaru to contact the subjects, the report said. As he did, Coniconde and the woman exited the vehicle. 

Coniconde stated they were having mechanical problems and parked in the lot, the report said.

As they spoke, Bajric smelled what he recognized as an odor associated with illegal drug use, the report said. Coniconde stated he did not have identification, but verbally identified himself, providing a name and date of birth. 

A dispatcher informed the deputy that Coniconde had a possible Idaho felony warrant for his arrest, and he was detained, the report said. After additional investigation, it was determined Coniconde lied, using a fictitious first name, and that he had a valid, extraditable felony warrant for his arrest. 

A search of Coniconde located a small pocketknife tucked in his shorts and a fanny pack, records show. Inside the fanny pack, deputies located two small CO2 containers wrapped in yellow tape with fuses sticking out of the ends. 

The bomb disposal unit was contacted and informed of the possible explosive devices, and deputies set up a safety perimeter. 

Coniconde advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. 

The report said he admitted to lying about his name, saying his Idaho parole officer was mad at him for missing his turn-in date for treatment causing him to believe he had a warrant for his arrest.  Coniconde’s suspicions were correct, the extraditable Idaho felony Parole Violation warrant was confirmed. 

As for the explosives, Coniconde said he found them in a toolbox he recently purchased at a vendor’s market, the report said.  He believed they were firecrackers, comparing them to M80s, and intended to light one and see what happened.

Bomb squad technicians confirmed the devices had explosive capabilities, and they rendered them safe for disposal.

Coniconde was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail; the woman, whom the report failed to identify, was released without charges.