"Suspicious Device Found Near Rochester Airport"

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Military Mystery at Airport   
By Chris Woodard
KTTC-TV Ch 10 (NBC), Rochester (MN)


ROCHESTER, MN -- The Olmsted County Sheriff's department has secured what
they say could be a dangerous crime scene just feet away from the Rochester
airport.

The most unsettling part about the whole situation, is that there are more
questions, even at this hour than answers and now we just wait.

There are still a lot of questions about exactly what it is that a city
employee stumbled upon this afternoon, and how dangerous it could be.

Right now all the sheriff's department seems to know for sure is that just
feet from a Rochester airport runway they have some kind of military device
that's not supposed to be there.

Joe Loftus from the Olmsted County Sheriff's department says, "It's a
canister, that has military markings, olive drab in color, all I know is
it's a military ordinance."

Around three o'clock this afternoon a city employee found the device in a
very remote area. 

It's a spot normally used as a sort of sand and gravel dumping area for the
city.

The police, sheriff's department, and airport fire crews came to check it
out and decided to call the hazardous materials team.

When that team arrived they took one look and told everyone to back off.

The hazmat team was planning on moving in to inspect the area but shortly
before 7 o'clock decided that wasn't a good idea.

John Turk with the Rochester Police Department says, "Well there is a little
bit of fear but it's probably more awareness and caution. We've had some
exposure and we've had classes with the military where they've said if you
see something and it has military markings on it contact us."

Loftus says they didn't want to take any chances especially in the dark.

So now, they're waiting until morning when more resources will be called in.

Loftus isn't saying what those resources are but said they have been working
closely with the Twin Cities bomb squad and Minnesota National guard.

A marked squad car is still guarding the area and Loftus says people living
in the immediate area have been notified, but he does not believe the public
is in any danger.

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