Mountain of weapons seized in raid

OGDENSBURG — Federal authorities raided a King Street home Thursday afternoon, seizing hundreds of weapons and ammunition. Several AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns and pistols were found in the home.

About 40 officers from various federal, state and local agencies participated in the raid shortly after 1 p.m. at 305 King St. A state police armored vehicle was used by a special operations response team to execute a federal search warrant on the home, in sight of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center's emergency room. No shots were fired during the raid.

Authorities said John B. "Jack" Rumble, the property owner, was taken into custody for questioning. Federal prosecutors said Thursday night that the raid involved a man with a federal firearms license who allegedly sold weapons illegally.

He will be arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Syracuse before Magistrate Judge George H. Lowe. The 54-year-old was being kept Thursday night at St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, on a federal hold.

"Everything went smoothly; no one was hurt," Ogdensburg Police Chief Richard J. Polniak Jr. said.

Authorities said Mr. Rumble was wearing a bulletproof vest under a sweater at the time of the raid and he was within reach of a loaded weapon when they cuffed him. Guns were found all over the home.

The raid was connected to two recent roundups by federal authorities involving weapons at homes in Rensselaer Falls and Oswegatchie, authorities said.

In October, a search warrant executed by state police on a County Route 16 home in Rensselaer Falls reportedly uncovered 72 assorted firearms, nearly 8 ounces of cocaine, numerous pot plants and about $10,000 cash. The firearms seized include nine handguns, a .50-caliber sniper rifle and various assault rifles and shotguns. Thousands of ammunition rounds also were seized during the raid.

The Rensselaer Falls raid was considered one of the larger weapons seizures in recent St. Lawrence County history.

Three months later, an Oswegatchie home raid reportedly uncovered 40 assorted firearms and a variety of drugs.

Mr. Rumble was taken by authorities to the emergency room at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center about two hours after the raid to be examined.

Lee E. Skelly, a longtime friend, said Mr. Rumble's father was a World War II veteran who started a collection of war memorabilia to which Mr. Rumble himself continued to add.

"I know Jack liked to collect guns," he said. "But I thought he had a license."

Mr. Skelly, however, vouched for Mr. Rumble's character.

"Jack Rumble is a stand-up guy, an excellent citizen, and definitely a bonus to the community," he said.

Federal and state authorities spent several hours Thursday removing and cataloging the cache of weapons and ammunition. They were to continue today to take inventory of the items found.

Another longtime friend and hunting buddy, Mark A. Brossoit, said Mr. Rumble owns 150 to 200 guns, and enough spare parts to assemble about 100 more. He said Mr. Rumble made his living as a union painter and described him as a survivalist who disapproves of a large, activist government.

"He's a good guy, though. He doesn't break the law," Mr. Brossoit said.

King Street between Mansion and Albany avenues was blocked off until about 3 p.m. Police tape remained around the front of the house into the evening. A bomb-sniffing dog was reportedly overwhelmed by the smell of ammunition and had to leave the home a short time after entering.

Law enforcement agencies involved in executing the warrant included Ogdensburg city police; the State Police Troop B special operations response team, gun and narcotics investigation units; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force and U.S. Border Patrol.

The federal warrant was signed by Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles, authorities said.

Mr. Rumble filed a federal lawsuit in March 2001 against the city, its Police Department and four officers. Mr. Rumble claimed he was falsely arrested during a standoff March 27, 1998, involving his neighbor, Mr. Brossoit, at 322 King St., where shots had been fired.

Mr. Rumble offered to help police talk Mr. Brossoit into surrendering. After Mr. Rumble was unable to do so, officers asked him to leave. When he reportedly refused, police arrested him.

He was convicted July 22, 1999, on a charge of second-degree obstructing governmental administration in Ogdensburg City Court. The conviction later was overturned by a St. Lawrence County Court judge who found a lack of evidence to support the charge. The judge said he found no indication that Mr. Rumble intended to interfere with Mr. Brossoit's arrest.

The federal lawsuit was dismissed in June 2002.