The UCPD bomb squad aided another department in responding to explosive devices found near a Fairfax middle school Sunday.
The bomb squad was consulted to determine the nature of four homemade explosive devices found on White Hill Middle School’s baseball field as well as the best way to deactivate the devices in collaboration with the Fairfax fire and police departments. The squad is consulted when explosives are found in the area because of mutual aid agreements between UCPD and the Fairfax County Police Department, according to UCPD spokesperson Lt. Eric Tejada.
At around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, neighbors walking their dogs on Lefty Gomez Field at the middle school reported suspicious packages in the middle of the field, according to Fairfax County Police Department Sgt. Stuart Baker.
Baker said that when police responded, they noticed three undetonated water bottle explosives, one vented water bottle explosive and paraphernalia used to transport chemicals. The total amount of chemicals seemed to be less than half a gallon worth of materials, according to Baker.
After police determined the three unexploded devices were still clearly under pressure with the possibility of a minor explosion, they called in the Ross Valley Fire Department and consulted the UCPD bomb squad, according to Baker.
The devices were placed in the middle of the baseball field far from any school structures, which suggests the devices were not there to cause damage but only to cause noise, Baker said.
The vented water bottle seemed to be a failed attempt, he said.
After consulting with the UCPD bomb squad via telephone, the Fairfax police safely released the pressure in the three unexploded devices by using shot pellets. The Ross Valley School District cleaned up the hazardous materials.
The police finished their investigation and deactivated and disposed of the devices by 3 p.m.
The Fairfax County Police Department has not currently arrested any suspects connected with the devices but collected evidence at the scene and is processing fingerprints, according to Baker.
“It is a felony to build a destructive device, and we do take it seriously,” Baker said.
White Hill Middle School began their spring break Friday and will be on break until April 16. Baker said he does not expect spring break to be lengthened due to the devices.
Last year, the UCPD bomb squad responded to between 22 and 24 explosive disposal calls, about one-third of which were campus related, Tejada said.
Jonathan Tam covers crime.
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Someone needs to do some fact checking and basic editing.
1) Fairfax County Police??? Umm, Fairfax, CA is in Marin County. So it would be the Fairfax Police Department.
2) It’s Lefty Gomez Field not Left Gomez Field.