MANSFIELD (UPDATED) — A possible explosive device found at 41 Rowland Ave. Thursday morning turned out to be a phosphorous illumination round.
Mansfield police closed off Rowland Avenue between Park Avenue West and Third Street and evacuated everyone living in the area before calling in the Ashland Bomb Squad, according to MPD Chief Ken Coontz.
“A gentleman was cleaning out his shed towards the back of his property, and when he removed some screens, he found what appears to be a military bomb,” Coontz said. “He didn’t know how it got there or any information about the bomb.”
According to a press release from the MPD, the device was found to be a luminary shell used to light up a battlefield and did not contain explosives. No other suspicious devices were located on the property.
The Ashland Bomb Squad took the device and detonated it safely. Residents were allowed to return to their homes after the device was removed.
The incident will be followed up by the Major Crimes Unit.
