WAPAKONETA – A traffic stop in Wapakoneta led to an area of the city being evacuated Tuesday night.
According to a press release from the Wapakoneta Police Department, at 7:06 p.m. Tuesday, a deputy from the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Wood Street at Cass Street in Wapakoneta. A request for the city’s K-9 unit was made and a sniff around the vehicle was completed. The K-9 gave a positive indication to the presence of illegal drugs.
While the deputy and the officer were conducting a search of the vehicle, a device that resembled an explosive device was found. A perimeter was set up and residents in the immediate area were evacuated.
The Allen County Regional Bomb Squad was contacted and they responded to the scene. They determined the device was not real.
While on the scene, officers learned that a house that the maker of the fake device had access to could possibly have a detonator inside. Officers, deputies and the bomb squad responded to 809 W. Plum St. at 9:55 p.m. and a search of the residence revealed no such items.
Illegal drugs were found in the vehicle the deputy stopped. The incidents remain under investigation and the case will be forwarded to the Auglaize County Prosecutor to review for charges.
“We understand that the citizens of the areas were very concerned with what was going on,” said Wapakoneta Police Chief Russel L. Hunlock. “We appreciate their cooperation and understanding with the situation we were faced with. We are thankful the device ended up being fake, however, we do not take these situations lightly and will do everything in our power to make sure our residents are safe.”
Assisting both the Wapakoneta Police Department and the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office were the Allen County Regional Bomb Squad, the Grand Lake Task Force and the Wapakoneta Fire Department.
