A Kearns man charged with selling cocaine and possessing machine guns will remain in the Salt Lake County Jail while his attorney investigates allegations the man also sought the deaths of two police officers.
U.S. Magistrate Ronald Boyce ordered Wayne Compton Pyle, 58, detained in jail while his attorney, Ron Yengich, reviews transcripts of an alleged conversation between Pyle and an informant.Pyle told the informant he was "willing to pay someone $20,000 to kill two West Vally City police officers in retribution for the death of his son, Mark Pyle," according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.
Mark Pyle, 32, was killed by a West Valley police SWAT team May 30 when they kicked in the door of his home in the middle of the night while executing a no-knock search warrant. Mark Pyle fired on police, injuring two officers. The officers returned fire, hitting Mark Pyle four times in the chest. He died an hour later at an area hospital.
Wayne Pyle allegedly approached the informant about a contract on the officers within a few weeks of his son's death.
Wayne Pyle has been charged with selling a total of 130 grams of cocaine on four occasions from August through October of last year.
He is also charged with possessing a Ruger Mini 14 .223-caliber rifle and an American 180 .22-caliber rifle. Both guns are classified as machine guns under federal law. If convicted on the gun charges, Wayne Pyle faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Boyce noted in Friday's hearing that a review of Wayne Pyle's history suggests he is not a flight risk. However, Pyle's possession of machine guns and the alleged threats against police are "clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is a danger to the community," Boyce said.
Pyle has not been charged with any crime yet stemming from the alleged threats to police. "I don't know what will come of that, if anything," said Mark Vincent, assistant U.S Attorney. "I don't know if there is enough evidence to pursue that."
The government's investigation has focused on the cocaine and the guns, he said. The threats are a secondary concern.