Suspected Bomb Found In Prison

Tue., June 24, 1997

From Staff Reports

Authorities removed a suspected pipe bomb from the Airway Heights Corrections Center on Monday.

An employee discovered the device - a length of pipe capped on both ends and wrapped in duct tape - about 9:40 a.m. near an entrance of a maintenance building at the prison, said Rich Hewson, a center spokesman.

Inmates and corrections staff have access to the building, where shovels, rakes and other tools are stored, Hewson said.

The building and the area around it were evacuated, and Spokane County explosives experts were called in to investigate, Hewson said.

About 3 p.m., bomb squad members removed the pipe and destroyed it at an undisclosed location. They are examining the debris to determine if the device contained explosive materials or was a fake.

Corrections officials also are investigating. They want to know how the pipe got there.

No one was hurt, and the bomb had little impact on prison operations, Hewson said. , DataTimes

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