[Press Release] : Fire and law enforcement respond to report of suspicious device

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Division Chief Steven Sapp - (573) 874-7759

Fire and law enforcement respond to report of suspicious device

COLUMBIA, MO (March 23, 2006) -- On Thursday, March 23, at 12:27 p.m.,
units of the Columbia Fire Department, Columbia Police Department,
University of Missouri Police and the Parks and Recreation Department
park ranger responded to report of a suspicious package in the parking
lot of the Grindstone Recreation Center at 2011 Old Highway 63 South. 

The park ranger was notified that a small black device was on a table
in the shelter area. Prior to the arrival of the park ranger, an unknown
person(s) moved the device to a steel 55 trash drum at the trail head in
the parking lot. 

The Hazardous Device Team, consisting of members of the Columbia
Police, Columbia Fire, and University Police, were dispatched along with
additional law enforcement personnel. 

Following protocol to ensure the safety of citizens and emergency
services providers, the area of the park was cordoned off and traffic
along Old Highway 63 from Stadium Boulevard to Grindstone was stopped. 

The Hazardous Device Team used a robotic device with cameras to look
into the trash can at the device. They were able to initially determine
that the device appeared to be associated with the military and were
able to read some device numbers. A phone call to Ft. Leonard Wood
Explosive Ordinance Team revealed that the device appeared to be a
training device and not a live military explosive device.

Continuing with protocol and treating the device as a live device,
Hazardous Device Team members donned protective gear and made contact
with the device. At that time, markings on the device were confirmed and
Ft. Leonard Wood EOD personnel were able to confirm the device was an
inert training device. 

The device was then picked up to be packaged and returned to Ft.
Leonard Wood. It is not known from what, if any, military base the
device came from. Columbia Police will work with military personnel to
try and determine where the device is from and how it ended up in
Grindstone Park. 

The park and Old Highway 63 were reopened to traffic about 3:30 p.m.

- 30 -
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