Garage owner joked about getting bomb in mail and shook the package

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WINNIPEG — When the owner of Ollie’s Garage got an odd package in the mail about two weeks ago, he joked with his co-workers that it might be a bomb.

Ollie Ehrmantraut says he was shocked to learn that’s exactly what it was — one of three bombs detonated in Winnipeg between July 3 and 5.

Ehrmantraut says the soft, white package was addressed to his garage but with his friend Iris Amsel’s name on it.

He says one of his workers ended up taking the package to the woman’s workplace, another automotive shop a short distance away.

However, because she was on vacation it sat untouched on her desk for three days.

Amsel’s ex-husband, Guido Amsel, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and other charges related to an explosion that injured his ex-wife’s lawyer, Maria Mitousis.

Ehrmantraut said Monday that when the package first arrived, he and his co-workers shook it around their ears, wondering what it was.

“We were laughing actually about the handwriting (on the package) because it looked like something a little kid wrote,” Ehrmantraut said. “Then we thought ? maybe it’s a bomb or something.”

Ehrmantraut said he is grateful he didn’t pay more attention to the package or open it.

“I’ve got two kids, family, friends, we’ve got a lot going for us,” he said. “That would have been a bad way to go out.”

He said when he heard about the bombing that injured Mitousis, he contacted Iris Amsel and sent her a picture of the package.

She told him not to open it and to call police. The bomb unit arrived and detonated the explosive in her automotive shop and though no one was hurt, the blast left a hole in the roof.

“It could have been me getting blown up,” Ehrmantraut said. “There was enough (explosives) there to blow our heads off. All four of us would have been decapitated if it would have been in the middle (of the shop).”

The bomb unit later also detonated another package sent to a law firm that used to represent Guido Amsel.

The Amsels divorced in March after a messy, 10-year legal battle.

Ehrmantraut said he was friends with the couple for 15 years, a relationship that began when he worked for them as a mechanic in their previous automotive shop on Raleigh Street.

The men used to practise target shooting together with home-made explosives, Ehrmantraut said, adding that Guido Amsel was always very careful.

“He’s very respectful about rules and properties, and here’s the line, you stay behind the line — safety first and glasses on and don’t forget your ear protection,” Ehrmantraut said.

He also said his friend seemed very protective of his mail.

“It was a very particular thing — you don’t touch anybody’s mail,” Ehrmantraut said.

“He would flip out if you touched his mail. If you’re nice to (Guido), he’s nice to you — would give you the shirt off his back. He will help you in any way. He helped me in more ways than I can explain, but he has the oddest way of going about things.”

He said Iris Amsel is in good spirits and has returned to work.