Grand Coulee man charged for bomb threats, shooting at ex-wife

EPHRATA — A Grand Coulee man reportedly contacted police stating he had hard-wired his house with an incendiary device and later admitted to firing a shot at his ex-wife.

Grant County prosecutors charged Eli Downs, 33, of Grand Coulee, in Grant County Superior Court with threats to bomb or injure property and aiming or discharging a firearm or other dangerous weapon.

Downs’ charges stem from an incident on June 24, when MACC Dispatch received a call from a man, alleged to be Downs, stating he had wired his house with an incendiary device. Downs reportedly hung up the phone, but MACC was able to get back in contact with him and he stated there was a fire in his house, but he had put it out. He later changed his story and said his house was in fact on fire.

Downs had been contacted earlier in the day by Grand Coulee police after claiming his ex-wife was attempting to take his children from him. Downs placed two separate calls to 911 earlier in the day and made similar allegations, both of which were unfounded. Child Protective Services was called to his Banks Avenue residence after the calls were made and CPS representatives removed Downs’ children from his household. About 30 minutes after CPS and police left his residence, Downs contacted MACC stating he had wired his house with an incendiary device.

“I know Eli was an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) expert while in the military. I know Eli has had SWAT type training/tactics as an armed security guard for the Grand Coulee Dam,” wrote an officer. “ I know Eli has numerous handguns and long rifles.”

With Downs’ questionable mental state, the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team (TRT) was placed on standby. When police arrived on Banks Avenue Downs was reportedly two houses down from his residence and told officers his house was on fire and there were trip wires all around the residence. There were no obvious signs of trip wires in the house and police couldn't not find any evidence of a fire.

Officers reportedly located a handgun on Downs when he was taken into custody, which he said he had shot at his ex-wife. Police later located a 9mm shell casing in the driveway at Downs’ house. Downs was walked into his house and asked to show police the alleged fire.

“He pointed on the counter where he had used the extinguisher. I asked for him to show me the wires. He said the type of wires used burn up and leave no trace. I asked about the gas. I told him there is no odor or signs of gas, along with no burn marks,” wrote a officer. “He could not explain the no burn marks but told me that he knows that he could cause a fire/bomb using many household cleaners.”

While walking through the lower part of the house, Downs allegedly pointed out numerous items which he believed he was seeing, but were reportedly not there, according to police records.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.