Two Hope residents are facing charges after RCMP officers and BC Hydro workers investigating the use of an illegal BC Hydro meter were allegedly threatened with a home-made bomb.

"This is an example that shows there is never a routine call for a police officer," says Staff Sgt. Suki Manj in a statement Monday. "Two seasoned officers were faced with a life and death situation and were almost forced to use lethal force to protect themselves and the public."

Police said that on Thursday at 1 p.m., officers were called to assist Hydro in keeping the peace at a home in the 21900-block of Ross Road.

Hydro employees said the occupants were using an illegal meter and that after repeated threats of violence they had to call police to help inspect the equipment and install an authorized meter.

However, the couple refused to allow access to inspect their equipment and the man and woman allegedly made new threats to officers and hydro employees, and that the woman kicked an officer.

As the woman was being arrested, the man came out with two jars containing a blue clear liquid with an ignitor rigged to the jars.

Police, believing it was a bomb, negotiated with him and he was subsequently arrested.

The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) determined the jars likely contained jet fuel which was to be triggered with a BBQ ignitor. The suspected bomb was destroyed at the scene.

Dean Grykuliak, 46, has been charged with possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose and two counts of conveying a threat against the two officers. Ella Gutierrez, 48, has been charged with assaulting a peace officer.

bmorton@vancouversun.com