I did a search on the StarTribune site, and finally found an update to this story--it was filed late Thursday night, Mar 1:
Subject of explosives probe left homeless, lawyer says
Terry L. Dahlen is a former licensed weapons maker whose Bloomington home was condemned after federal officials seized firearms this week, his attorney said.
By Chao Xiong, Star Tribune
A Bloomington man who was jailed then released after federal authorities confiscated several firearms and explosive materials from his house has been left homeless after the city condemned his house, according to his attorney.
Terry L. Dahlen, 60, and his wife are living with relatives after a city official said the couple have mice and too much clutter in their basement, garage and back yard, said attorney Joe Rymanowski.
"Normally they don't condemn for that," Rymanowski said. "They say, 'Clean it up.' " Rymanowski said the couple were given until March 8 to clean up the house.
Dahlen has not been charged with any crime and was released from jail Wednesday afternoon. He agreed to be named for this story.
The last few days have been rough, Rymanowski said.
Dahlen has "been reduced to tears," he said. "He's obviously terrified."
FBI agent Paul McCabe said only that the case is still under investigation. The state Bureau of Criminal of Apprehension and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) are part of the joint investigation into Dahlen.
Speaking on Dahlen's behalf, Rymanowski said his client is a gun and pyrotechnics hobbyist who used to be a licensed weapons manufacturer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The materials and firearms seized by authorities are left over from the days he made firearms for sale to other hobbyists, Rymanowski said.
"None of it was illegal," he said. "He wasn't building a bomb. He wasn't threatening anybody."
Rymanowski said he's puzzled as to why federal authorities searched Dahlen's house, but added that they have been cooperative and professional.
"My question is: If he's such a menace to society, why didn't Hennepin County charge him?" his attorney said. "I think this is just another level of government harassment. People think gun collectors are nuts."
Federal authorities have not said why or for how long Dahlen has been investigated. The Bloomington and Minneapolis bomb squads were called out to his home Monday in the 1700 block of W. 84th Street. Authorities also searched a commercial retail building at 5200 47th Av. S. in Minneapolis on Tuesday that belongs to his wife, who runs a salon at the address. "Explosive materials" that required a bomb squad and the skills of military personnel also were found there.
Steve Bogdalek, assistant special agent in charge of the ATF, has said the materials found at both locations were not in danger of exploding.
Authorities have said they also found blasting caps and detonation cords at Dahlen's house. His attorney said he also had inert land mines that are sold as collectors' items and clocks in the shape of fake dynamite sticks.
Rymanowski said his client does not now have plans to take any legal action in response to the searches, condemnation of his house or arrest.
Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391 •
[email protected]
The plot thickens. We need some good investigative reporting done as to why this happened, and why it was a story to begin with.
I'm going with my conspiracy theory: The antigunners are trying for a double: The new AWB AND ammunition licensing, and this kind of reporting is laying the groundwork to terrify the sheeples.
