Suspicious device causes evacuation of two schools

Jamie Musick

5/2/07 May 01, 2007 10:50 pm

— CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — The parent of a Cambridge Springs Elementary School student was apparently attempting to report the discovery of a suspected pipe bomb when he put the device into his pickup truck Tuesday morning, drove to the school and reported it to officials in the school’s office.
In light of the incident, which led to the evacuation of more than 1,000 Cambridge elementary and high school students, authorities were stressing that suspected explosive devices should be left where they are found and 911 or police should be summoned immediately.
After being notified by the student’s father of the device outside the school in his pickup truck, Cambridge Springs Elementary Principal Patti Fiely called 911 at 8:21 a.m., according to police. The 911 dispatch was at 8:22 with emergency units arriving at the school at 8:25.
According to PENNCREST School District Superintendent Richard Borchilo, students from both buildings were transferred safely to Cambridge Springs High School’s gymnasium.
After a Cambridge Springs Elementary student apparently found the device near his home in the school district, he gave the device to his mother, according to police. The student’s father then drove to the elementary school by himself with the device in his truck, according to Francis Schultz, Crawford County’s district attorney.
The father had arrived after school was in session to alert authorities and the school’s principal of the device that was found. The device was never inside the building, Schultz said.
The device was removed and then detonated with charges set by the Erie Police Bomb Squad at approximately 12:15 p.m. at the back of the high school’s Baird Field.
Students were dismissed at about 10:30 a.m., according to Borchilo. Parents were also notified of the situation between 9 and 10 a.m., according to Cambridge Springs Police Department.
Cambridge Springs Elementary School enrolls 547 students, while the high school enrolls 603, Borchilo said. According to state police, both schools were searched and cleared using bomb-detecting dogs. All students, faculty and administrators were safely evacuated from both schools without incident, according to police.
“It appeared to be a pipe bomb,” Schultz said. “We don’t know if there was an explosive device in it. We will still be investigating the case. The school did the right thing and called 911.”
The device, Schultz said, was approximately 6 inches long and appeared to be made of metal.
“We followed the direction of the authorities and followed their suggestions to get them (the students) to the safest place before we could transport them home,” Borchilo said.
Cambridge Springs police and fire departments were assisted by state police, Cambridge Springs Ambulance, Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department’s bomb-sniffing dog, Erie City Police Bomb Squad and its bomb-sniffing dog, Erie Airport’s bomb-sniffing dog, Crawford County Office of Emergency Services, the district attorney and PENNCREST administration.
According to Clint Rauscher, Cambridge High’s athletic director, the school’s softball and baseball games scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday were moved to Conneaut Valley High School. The volleyball team’s match was still held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Cambridge Springs High School, he said.
“The field (where the device was detonated) is fine,” Rauscher said. “There was a minor hole in the out-of-play territory (of the field). It will have no effect on playing (at the field).”
Investigation of the incident continues, Schultz said, and the device will be sent to a federal lab in Washington, D.C., to perform tests to determine if it contained explosives. He said the case is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No charges have yet been filed, according to police.
“I’d like to thank all of the agencies for coming out as rapidly as they did,” Borchilo said. “As a precautionary measure, the authorities did check both buildings and found both to be safe.” The schools are expected to operate under normal schedules today.
State police and the ATF strongly urge anyone with any information about this incident to contact either the PSP Meadville Barracks, ATF, Crime Stoppers or their local police department.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SUSPICIOUS DEVICE
Certain safety precautions should be taken if an individual finds a suspected explosive device, according to Cpl. Donald Ott of Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville.
“You don’t do what this guy did,” he said, referring to the parent of a Cambridge Springs Elementary School student who took a suspected device to the school to report it to authorities. “If you notice something that looks suspicious, whether it represents a bomb or even old military ordnance, leave it there, get away from it and call the police.”
Ott added that proper authorities should handle any such devices. “We have a hazardous device team that can remove the device and render it safe,” he said. “Leave those type of materials to the people who know what they’re doing with them. Absolutely do not handle it.”

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