Update: Possibly ‘explosive’ item brought to sheriff’s office identified by bomb squad
Published 4:44 pm Sunday, April 12, 2015
Authorities cordoned off a four-block section surrounding the San Juan County Courthouse Sunday afternoon after a local resident arrived at Sheriff’s department seeking help in disposing of four items found while cleaning out their garage that were believed to be explosive in nature.
A Washington State Patrol bomb unit, dispatched from Everett, arrived on San Juan to evaluate the substance and identified it as ‘Mighty Putty,” a harmless epoxy as seen on TV infomercials.
“This stuff was found near guns and ammo, and was brought to Sheriff’s Office with concern that it was explosive,” Sheriff Ron Krebs said in an email.
The individual placed the items in the rear of their PT Cruiser, drove to town, parked in front of the sheriff’s office, Sunday, April 12, where they went to seek assistance, according to a press release from the local department of emergency management.
The closed-off streets included Second Street, from Spring Street to Blair Avenue, the main thoroughfare leading out of town to neighborhoods in the north and west areas of San Juan Island. The courthouse parking lot, adjacent to San Juan Community Theatre, which was scheduled to host a 5 p.m. performance of the San Juan Singers, was closed off as well.
“Always better safe than sorry, but a good opportunity to remind people to call 911 before they put the object in the car and drive it to Town,” said Krebs.
— Scott Rasmussen
