Crews defuse antique bomb-like device near Cherry Hill Park
April 16, 2012 by Stephen Siegel · 5 Comments
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
April 16, 2012
Police, fire, and military crews were dispatched to a part of Virginia Avenue near Cherry Hill Park this morning after a resident in the 200 block reported finding something that looked like a bomb buried in his back yard.
The resident, who wasn’t identified, called about the device, and City police and the Falls Church Fire Marshal responded, closing Virginia and Park avenues shortly after the 10:22 am call. The Arlington County Fire Department and military officials also came to the scene.
The bomb-like device was determined to be an “antique military device,” said Susan Finarelli, spokeswoman for the City. It was unclear if it was an historical artifact left over from the Civil War, or if it was live when the resident found it, but officials “rendered it safe” and the military disposed of it.
As a precaution, residents in seven nearby houses were told to evacuate, Cherry Hill Park was cleared, and a stretch of Park Avenue was closed. The all-clear was given at 12:45 pm, after officials scoured the neighborhood to see if there was anything else of concern. Nothing was found, Ms. Finarelli said.
