(Press Release -Mammoth Lakes Police Department)
On Friday July 27th Mammoth Lakes Police Officers were dispatched to the La Residence condominium development for a report of a found mortar round possibly used for avalanche control. The condominium manager was cleaning out a vacant unit and discovered the device, possible left by prior tenants.
Upon arrival, MLPD officers determined that the round was not consistent with those used by MMSA for avalanche control. They did identify it as an 81mm illumination mortar round, still currently in use by the U.S. military.
After evacuating the building and securing the scene, MLPD requested assistance from a military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.
Early Saturday morning, an EOD team from Fallon, NV arrived to evaluate the round and make it safe. The round was found to be two portions of previously fired rounds that had been later attached. The EOD team took possession of the round for further investigation, and to determine if the attached fuse was still live.
MLPD has identified the owner of the round and criminal charges are pending additional investigation.
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There is no cost to Mono County or the Town of Mammoth Lakes for a response from a military Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team. When MLPD officers responded on Friday and determined that it was not an avalanche control round from MMSA they contacted the EOD team in Fallon, NV and provided a detailed description of the round. The EOD team member, upon learning the description, was very clear that all precautions should be taken until they arrived the next day. The MLPD acted on the advice of the experts from Fallon. As cat points out, MLPD officers are not bomb disposal experts and it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
I recommend, cat, that you call and schedule a ridealong on some weekend night. Your opinion of the MLPD will likely be changed by the experience. I’d also recommend that if we are able to reestablish our Community Police Academy, you should attend to learn what and how local police operate and you’ll get to meet and know MLPD officers.
Any jackass that thinks explosives should be taken lightly is just that! Even if it turns up to be a non active fuse you can not blame the police for calling in the EOD experts. Mammoth cops do not have the training that bomb squads do.
That said, I still do believe that 90% of our local police are jackasses and the local police department equals KEYSTONE COPS!
Should’ve just let the police toss it in a dumpster. I’m sure MLPD is up to date on all their military grade explosive training. I don’t live in that building why do my tax dollars have to pay for some other people’s safety. Wah wah wah!
Bennett, why don’t you ask Mr Obenberger or Sheriff Scholl how much it costs to dispatch the EOD team? Bet taxpayers won’t be laughing then! I am sure they won’t answer the question, because they never do, but I bet Chief Watson can answer it for you!
Here you go Laughing… “There is no cost to Mono County or the Town of Mammoth Lakes for a response from a military Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team.”
All the tax and public servant haters can breath easy…
good one tourbillon i’m still laughing.
Hard to say .. it probably is inert, since the report stated it was two pieces of previously fired rounds. Sounds like there are no criminal charges to be filed, but now days, it’s a different story with homeland security and all. Big news though.
Criminal charges pending? This ‘device’ sounds like a glorified paper weight that you can buy at the military surplus stores in Hawthorne.
Dispatch the Mono County Navy! This sinister mortar probably was intended to shell our fleet.
Let’s guess how many charges PD can come up with on this one.