[Press Release] : 'Hoax' device causes evacuation of residents

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Battalion Chief Gary L. Warren, Jr. - (573) 874-7644

'Hoax' device causes evacuation of residents

COLUMBIA, MO (March 38, 2006) -- A "walk-in report" at Columbia Fire
Station Two made it necessary to evacuate residents from 20 - 25 homes
last night in and around the 700 block of Rowe Street. Around 7:55 p.m.
a citizen went to Columbia Fire Station Two to report a suspicious
hazardous device.

Units of the Columbia Fire Department, the Columbia Police Department
and the Hazardous Device Unit responded to the area of Rowe Street and
Jene Rae Drive. Prior to the arrival of the Hazardous Device Unit,
residents were evacuated from their homes around 8:14 p.m. because of
the nature of the report.

Upon arrival, the technicians of the Hazardous Device Unit used a robot
to conduct an unmanned recon of the possible device and the area. The
recon revealed what was believed to be an improvised explosive device
(I.E.D.), which dictated the actions of the Hazardous Device Team.

The Hazardous Device Team used the robot to disrupt the device. A
technician then donned a Nedeng Bomb Suit and proceeded into the area
for physical collection of evidence and confirmation on the legitimacy
of the I.E.D. During collection of the evidence it was determined by the
technician that the device was not an I.E.D. but instead a "hoax"
device. 

After collection of the evidence was complete residents were allowed
back into their homes around 11 p.m. Although inconvenienced, most
evacuated residents were thankful of the thorough investigation by the
responding departments and that the device was not legitimate.

- 30 -
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