Salt Lake activist suspected in Utah fires charged with arson in Denver

By Rebecca Palmer
Deseret News
Monday, July 26, 2010

DENVER, Colo. — A Salt Lake man with connections to the Animal Liberation Front was arrested in the middle of the night last week in connection with arson fires in Utah and Colorado.

The FBI and a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked with local police to take Walter Bond into custody. They did so after arranging and recording a meeting where Bond, 34, allegedly admitted to the crimes in conversations with a tipster.

During the conversation, Bond allegedly admitted burning a sheepskin factory store to the ground in Glendale, Colo., on April 30, and setting fire to a leather factory and a restaurant that serves foie gras in Utah, according to federal court documents.

A June 5 arson fire at Tandy Leather Factory, 1107 S. State in Salt Lake City, caused about $20,000 in damages. An arson fire on July 3 at Tiburon restaurant, 8256 S. 700 East in Sandy, caused about $10,000 damage and forced the restaurant to close for several days. The fire at the Colorado sheepskin factory caused $500,000 damage.

The unnamed tipster called ATF after speaking with Bond for the first time in many years. After asking him what was new, Bond referred the person to a fire mentioned on the website www.voiceofthevoiceless.org and indicated "that's what he had been up to," the court document states.

The site claims to be a journal for the Animal Liberation Movement.

"The arson at Sheepskin Factory in Denver was done in defense and retaliation for all the innocent animals that have died cruelly at the hands of human oppressors," the site states. "Also, be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur. As demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan! ALF Lone Wolf."

According to the court document, Bond has used the moniker Lone Wolf because all the businesses he allegedly targeted represent animals that wolves typically hunt.

Bond, who has a prominent tattoo on his neck that reads "VEGAN," made an initial appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in Denver. He was charged with one count of arson of property affecting interstate commerce for the Colorado fire.

Bond has not been charged in connection with the Utah fires, which are still under investigation.

"Terrorism in the name of animal rights is every bit as dangerous and destructive as the other threats facing our country today," said FBI Special Agent James Davis. "The actions of Mr. Bond resulted in significant property damage and, worse, could have resulted in loss of life."

This story was reported from Salt Lake City.