Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Local man blows off arm with pipe bomb

Local man blows off arm with pipe bomb

Jul 12, 2004 - 23:15:43 CDT

By MIKE ALBRECHT, Bismarck Tribune

Andrew Greff drove to a Bismarck hospital with one arm Saturday morning after he blew apart his other arm with a pipe bomb.

"I lit a pipe bomb, and it went off in my hand," the 21-year-old Bismarck man told St. Alexius Medical Center staff at about 6:30 a.m. when he ran through the emergency room doors. He said the accident happened at Kimball Bottoms, about 10 miles south of Bismarck.

The explosion blew apart Greff's left arm between his hand and mid bicep, Bismarck Police Lt. Dan Donlin said. The Tribune was unable to contact Greff for comment, and the hospital was unable to release his condition Monday afternoon.

Earlier this month, Greff and a friend, Doug Feist, 27, were accused of keeping poisonous snakes in Greff's 306 N. 13th St. apartment. They both face felony reckless endangerment charges for putting neighbors in danger. Greff was out of jail on a $500 bond.

Hospital staff called Bismarck police shortly after Greff pulled up next to the ambulance entrance. The bomb squad roped off an area around Greff's car while they searched inside it for explosives. The car was towed when only a few large fireworks were found inside.

Greff didn't answer many of the officers' questions. He was heavily sedated due to the "extreme pain," Donlin said.

Later that day, investigators went to Greff's apartment with a search warrant. No one answered their knocks, but they found a 20-year-old man hiding in the closet when they went inside. The man was not arrested, and police would not release his name.

Further investigation revealed that Feist, of Bismarck, helped make the pipe bombs and that he and Greff were attaching them to propane tanks, Donlin said. Feist was arrested after a witness said Feist helped construct the bomb, Donlin said.

Feist's car was searched next. Some evidence was found in the house and the car, but authorities were unable to elaborate because the investigation is ongoing.

"I haven't done anything wrong," Feist said Monday in an interview from the Burleigh County jail. "I never helped build the pipe bombs."

Feist said he wasn't with Greff Saturday morning, and that his friend acted on his own. Feist said he didn't hear about Greff's accident until after he was arrested and "it caught me as much off guard as everyone else."

"I feel really, really bad for him, but I just keep thinking 'Why would he do something like this?' I don't understand it," Feist said. "It just doesn't make any sense."

The Burleigh County Sheriff's Department also is investigating the accident because Greff said it occurred in the county. Sheriff's Maj. Nick Sevart said they were unable to find where the explosion occurred, but deputies are continuing to search just in case Greff left something dangerous behind.

"If there's a danger to the public, we want to take care of that," Sevart said.

Greff and Feist were charged Monday with felony possession of a bomb, Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Leann Bertsch said. Greff will appear in court for his first appearance -- where he's told of the charge against him and bond is set -- when he's released from the hospital. Feist had his first appearance Monday and is being held in the Burleigh County jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

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Comments

sister wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 PM:

" your missed dearly buddy. "

guess wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Thanks for putting MY efforts into the paper. You rock. No Alyysa, this is my idea. "

Alyssa Roller wrote on Jan 1, 2007 10:27 PM:

" hey . thanks for putting that sweet article in the news paper i just love when people can read about me ! well thanks love : alyssa roller "

Question? wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:52 AM:

" How come is the school improvement director for DPI not a licensed teacher? Is this a patern the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been doing for years? I've heard rumors to that effect. It would be nice if someone would check this out - and not only in the school improvment department. I think the State Superintendent should be held to the same standard as public schools are held to in North Dakota. Currently when schools hire teachers who do not have a current North Dakota Teacher's License, someone (the teacher) pays a fine ( I think it is about $ 100. per day.) I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. DPI should be held to the same standard as teachers and the schools. "

Correction wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:38 AM:

" The article states that "The plan provides further details to state assessments, which are currently given to fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders and will eventually be expanded to other grades." This is incorrect. For the past 2 years the state assessments were administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. Twelfth grade students haven't been assessed for 3 years. "

Let's do it!! wrote on Oct 19, 2006 5:34 PM:

" Lets give back the whole state to the Native Peoples of this land. It's there's anyway!! "

Buck wrote on Aug 30, 2006 9:59 AM:

" Or whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaat! "

Kristin wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:09 AM:

" Well i was searching for my friend Kelly Winn the snow boarder i meant from the max air show at a Carnival in Carbondale IL... i use to work with Harris Exoitics and we were set up right behind him... Kelly and i kept in touch for a while after but i guess i know why the letters stopped now. you know it sucks to have had to find out this was. i still thought of him from time to time hoping one day we'd see eachother again i cant believe i had to find out this way years later what had a happen. RIP Kelly. Im just sorry it took me this long to find out.. "

ummyeah wrote on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM:

" These comments aren't even about the article. Wow. "

washingtongirl1 wrote on Aug 3, 2006 3:30 AM:

" Wow! These comments don't even seem to apply...? Far too confusing for those who read, to even try to care. Hmmm, who screens this anyway? "

L33tmaster wrote on Jul 28, 2006 7:51 AM:

" I hate the government. They have no right to tell me what I can or can't do. I'll gamble online whenever i damn please. "

hunkpapa wrote on May 24, 2006 9:32 AM:

" The Gaming Division of North Dakota need to furhter investigate this man. He has been given a license to steal just as he did at Standing Rock. Banks accounts and other financial information needs to be collected and examined on how he was able to obtain the funds to purchase the establishment in Fargo. One would believe it was from the money that was obtined from the Standing Rock Tribe. Be where of this individual. "

Shannon wrote on May 16, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Whay happpend to this women is unbelivable but the article was to discriptive of the scene. Yes, we are curois about the events that surrounded her murder but to what extent? Could you emagine if you read about your grandmother this way.... what would be your feelings then?! "

berber wrote on May 8, 2006 6:50 PM:

" what is another bird in the pelican family "

kathy toohey wrote on May 4, 2006 12:26 AM:

" I never fully understood the vital lifeline that Greyhound is, or was according to the article. It is somewhat confusing, you don't know if they are going or coming back. All of the stories are everyday stories and these are the ones that should be heard, and considered in such a decision, community, and communities that were all connected by this one bus line, and the jobs that were connected with this company, to rid these individuals of this one required mode of transportation is totally uncalled for and should be rectified immediately. We have to remember what we are dealing with here, humans who by helping them, they help one another, and it continues on,and all concerned will benefit and they will make their money, they have to remember maybe their pockets are to full and might need some individuals to be held accountable for the reasons that this is happening at all. "

Bob Armentrout wrote on Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" Just a quick note, my wife (who is from the La Crosse, WI area) and I saw about 200 white pelicans on the Mississippi River, just south of Stoddard WI. She told me she had never seen pelicans in this area before. We saw the flock first on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. Today, April 17, the flock has scattered some, mostly appearing to be in breeding pairs. If we see any nesting, we will post additional comments. "

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