COULEE CITY — The Grant County Sheriff's Office arrested two Soap Lake men early Saturday for allegedly stealing anhydrous ammonia from a Cenex farm chemical facility northeast of Coulee City, following an anonymous tip.

The two subjects were pulled over around 1 a.m. by deputies in the area of Road 36 N.E. and Road L N.E. about two miles east of Coulee City. A search of the suspects' 1989 Ford Taurus yielded a five-gallon steel tank of the chemical, a key ingredient for manufacturing methamphetamine, in the trunk. Anhydrous ammonia is used as an agricultural fertilizer.

Deputies seized the ammonia tank after determining it was filled with the gas. The tank was later taken to an isolated area and penetrated twice with rifle rounds by deputies to safely discharge the pressurized gas. The gas quickly dissipated, said Chief Deputy John Turley, and was not a hazard.

The vehicle and steel tank were taken to a secure impound yard, he said.

William Leslie Fielding, 45, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary, theft of ammonia and unlawful storage of anhydrous ammonia. He was also arrested on an outstanding district court warrant for failure to appear.

The second suspect, Ryan Douglas Cecchetti, 24, was arrested on anticipated charges of conspiracy to burglary and theft. Cecchetti was also arrested on suspicion of unlawful storage of anhydrous ammonia.

Both men were booked into Grant County Jail.

— Staff report