Pomeroy man arrested after allegedly pouring gasoline around deputy’s home
By Griffin Beach on Friday, September 4th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
POMEROY – A 47-year-old man faces multiple charges — including attempted arson, assault and making a bomb threat — after allegedly pouring gasoline around a Garfield County Sheriff’s deputy’s home while carrying a lighter.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release that the deputy was on duty when he received an alert from his home security system indicating someone was on his property.
When the deputy arrived at his house, he saw a man hiding behind a vehicle. The deputy ordered the man, later identified as William Timothy Teeple, to step out. Teeple then allegedly approached the deputy aggressively and engaged in a physical confrontation, during which the deputy was injured.
The deputy deployed a Taser and was able to control Teeple until a second deputy arrived to help place him under arrest.
Surveillance footage from the deputy’s house showed Teeple pouring a liquid, later determined to be gasoline, around the home and personal vehicle. A lighter was found on Teeple.
While in custody, Teeple told deputies that there was a bomb at his residence a few houses away. He claimed the device was attached to a diesel fuel tank and set to detonate within four hours.
Officials evacuated the surrounding area and notified the Washington State Patrol bomb squad, which determined there was no explosive device.
Teeple also allegedly made threats against certain Pomeroy residents. The sheriff’s office said it is evaluating the legitimacy of those statements.
Teeple was listed on the Whitman County Jail roster Friday afternoon on charges of third-degree assault, second-degree criminal trespass, resisting arrest, bomb threat with intent to alarm, third-degree malicious mischief, harassment, along with three counts of attempted second-degree arson.
His bail was set at $100,000 cash.
