SCIOTO COUNTY – Columbus Bomb squad is heading south to Portsmouth area this morning to defuse explosive devices found on the side of the road.
According to authorities the bomb squad was requested to the area of Dry Run Road when a inmate cleaning crew came across a old ammo box by the creek side, inside that ammo box was grenades.
After the discovery police blocked off dry run road not allowing travel until the bomb squad could dispose of the possible deadly device.
The bomb squad should be able to get the device and destroy it with safety quickly. Once its removed the police will reopen the road.
Update: Official Statement from Scioto Sheriff Sheriff Marty V. Donini announces that his 911 telecommunication center received a call on Wednesday February 19 at 10:59a from a worker with Scioto County Litter Control that he had found a metal box that appeared to contain an explosive device along Dry Run Road in West Portsmouth.
When officers arrived, they photographed the device and closed Dry Run Road at St. Rt. 104 setting up a 500-foot perimeter with the help of Washington Twp. FD. The photo was sent to the Columbus Division of Fire bomb squad for review.
After viewing the photos, the Columbus Division of Fire assembled a team to respond to Dry Run Road. The Columbus team arrived to Dry Run at 1:47p. They viewed and X-rayed the box and contents and concluded it appeared to be military grade incendiary devices. The team then rendered the assorted items in the box safe and prepared them for travel. The items will be returned to Columbus Division of Fire and destroyed at their facility. The road was cleared and reopened at 2:21p
Although the items were not assembled as an active explosive device, they were very dangerous items that could cause serious physical harm to an untrained person.
Sheriff Donini cautions that anytime you find something that looks suspicious do not handle the item and contact the dispatch center at 740-354-7566 to avoid possible injury.
