Bomb squad disables pipe bomb south of Anderson

After over nine hours at a residence south of Anderson, the Shasta County Bomb Team identified and disabled three explosive devices at 7:30 p.m. The bomb squad was originally dispatched at about 10 a.m. June 9 to a residence at 5352 Balls Ferry Road when the home owner called authorities to inspect an ammunition box, Deputy Evan Armstrong said.

From the safety of a trailer, the bomb team drove a remote-controlled robot using a video screen and joystick to retrieve the three canisters from an ammunition box. The cans appeared to be aerosol cans Robinson said, but featured a flat top rather than a spray nozzle and included two fittings sticking out of the top.

"That's where we're perplexed," Robinson said at about 1 p.m., adding that the group even searched for similar looking objects on the internet for reference.

"His (the home owner's) friend in Anderson brought (the package) to ask his military-experienced friend what to do with it," Deputy Sean Robinson said.

The contents were suspicious.

"That's what spooked the owner to call us," Armstrong said.

"They thought it was three pipe bombs and left it in the driveway," Sergeant Jason Gassaway said.

The bomb team consisted of about four members with one lieutenant and eight additional deputies in the area.

Traffic onto Balls Ferry Road was restricted, and residents within 300 yards were notified and advised to leave the area, Robinson said. Evacuation was not required, however.

Shasta County Sheriff's Office lifted the closure on Balls Ferry Road at about 7:30 p.m., but the agency will continue its investigation into the incident.