Man charged with multiple counts related to pipe bomb, traffic stop – Albert Lea Tribune

An Albert Lea man faces multiple charges related to a short pursuit, traffic stop and subsequent items seized from his vehicle and home Friday in Albert Lea.

Police found one of the items seized from his vehicle, a pipe bomb, in a locked gun case returned to the Freeborn County Police Center after searching the man’s vehicle following the traffic stop. The device led to an evacuation of the government center complex for more than three hours, and authorities called in the St. Paul Bomb Squad to remove it.

Adam Alan Penhollow, 48, faces one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle; one count of fifth-degree drug possession; one count of possessing, manufacturing, transporting or storing an explosive device after being convicted of use, possession or sale of a controlled substance; one count of sale or possession of a silencer not legally possessed under federal law; one count of driving while intoxicated – refusal to submit to a chemical test as required by a search warrant; one count of possession of ammunition or any firearm – user of a controlled substance; and one count of driving after revocation.

Court documents state that an officer was alerted to Penhollow Friday afternoon after observing a possible fight outside the Walmart pharmacy at 1550 Blake Ave. A man left the group and got into a gray Kia Soreno registered to Penhollow’s wife.

The officer believed the man to be Penhollow, who was allegedly driving on a revoked license, and after verifying this information with dispatchers, the officer attempted to stop Penhollow on Sorenson Road, south of Hammer Road. Before turning on his headlights, the officer noticed that Penhollow had apparently failed to properly signal his turn.

Court documents state that instead of pulling over, the vehicle accelerated and the officer activated his siren. The vehicle reportedly accelerated to 55 mph before turning onto Paradise Road. After the officer used his car’s PA system to call Penhollow by name, Penhollow allegedly stopped the vehicle and was arrested for driving after revocation and felony fleeing.

Another officer began an inventory of the vehicle and noticed portions of bags containing white residue and began a drug impairment assessment and received a search warrant for a blood or urine sample.

Officers also found a locked safe in the vehicle, within reach of the driver. Court documents state that after the safe was retrieved, it appeared heavy and officers believed it might contain an illegal weapon. They sought and obtained a search warrant to open the safe.

Once at the Freeborn County Jail, Penhollow allegedly refused to provide a blood or urine sample despite the warrant.

When officers opened the safe, they found a bag containing more than 9 grams of a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a pipe bomb.

After receiving a search warrant at Penhollow’s home, officers found a shotgun, rifle and pistol ammunition, a revolver, a stockless rifle with a silencer attached to a barrel that was shorter than the legal length, a CO2 container used as an explosive device, cartridge reloading equipment, another explosive device and a partially homemade Sten submachine gun.

Penhollow was previously convicted of fifth-degree drug possession in March 2020. In May of this year, he pleaded guilty to fifth-degree drug possession, committing felonies while wearing body armor, possessing a short-barreled shotgun and DWI.

On Monday, District Court Judge Christy Hormann set Penhollow’s bail at $200,000 without conditions or $100,000 with conditions. If he posts conditional bail, he will have to wear a GPS device, not use or possess firearms or dangerous weapons and not possess alcohol or drugs, among other conditions.

He is due to appear in court again on July 18.