HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 10-10 Beeping anti-thet device mistaken for bomb in Maplewood MAPLEWOOD REVIEW
Beeping anti-theft device
mistaken for bomb in
Maplewood
Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/09/2017 - 10:35am
The Maplewood Police Department helped keep
passersby safely away from the Maplewood Mall Metro Transit Station until it was clear there was no
bomb. Aundrea Kinney/photo
When a Metro Transit bus operator heard a beeping sound in one of the trash cans at the Maplewood
Mall Metro Transit Station, the driver immediately contacted Metro Transit Police Officers, fearing the
noise could be coming from a bomb.
The St. Paul Police Department’s bomb squad ultimately determined the beeping was not a bomb, but a
theft deterrent device, likely from the nearby Maplewood Mall.
“Obviously, we take those things quite seriously,” said Howie Padilla, public relations manager of Metro
Transit.
According to Padilla, the bus operator heard the beeping just after 2 p.m. Oct. 4, and busses scheduled
to stop at the Maplewood Metro Transit Station were routed elsewhere until about 4 p.m. when the
area was determined to be safe.
Assisting Metro Transit Police, the Maplewood Police and Fire departments and North St. Paul Fire
Department responded by safely clearing people out of the area, according to
Cdr. Dave Kvam of the Maplewood Police Department.
Kvam explained that the St. Paul Police Department’s bomb squad had a canine unit smell the trashcan
to sense if it contained explosives, and the dog indicated that it did — he added that it was never clear
why the dog was mistaken.
The bomb squad sent in a robot next, Kvam said, adding that ultimately a human member of the bomb
squad had to be sent in because the robot could not get a clear image of the device, which was wrapped
in fabric.
“Someone stole something presumably at the mall and dumped the anti-theft device,” Kvam said.
“Apparently it beeps.”
Metro Transit tweeted just after 3 p.m. that those parked at the transit center were able to retrieve
their cars and that they would not tow any cars left at the transit center overnight.
—Aundrea Kinney