Bomb Squad Disarms Signal Flare

Man Finds Device While Searching For Metal

SILOAM SPRINGS — A military grade signal flare, found near the Illinois River on Old Highway 68 east of Siloam Springs, caused a bomb scare Monday afternoon.

Benton County sheriff’s deputies, the Bentonville Bomb Squad and the Arkansas State Police responded to a report of a pipe bomb about 3 p.m. The device was along a trail leading to the Illinois River, south of where Fairmount Road crosses U.S. 412.

Deputies arrived at the scene but did not get close because the device resembled a pipe bomb, according to Capt. Nathan Atchison of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. After using the bomb squad to disarm the device, they determined it was a signaling device.

“It was not a bomb,” Atchison said. “It was a signal flare used by the military. When it goes off it sends metal objects in the air which helps locate the spot.”

The bomb squad sent a robot to the device for a closer look using video cameras.

At one point Deputy Diane Spain shouted “Get back! Get way back!” People took cover behind nearby patrol cars.

Two loud bangs were heard several minutes apart. There were no visible explosions.

The device was found by Scottie Hudson of Siloam Springs. Hudson said he was searching for scrap metal along a trail leading up to a fishing hole along the Illinois River when he found the device next to a big tree.

“I had it in my hands,” he said. When he shook it, it rattled like it had BBs inside, he said.

He described it as a piece of galvanized metal about a foot long, with caps on both ends and a small hole for a fuse. He said the flare was heavy.

“I didn’t expect to find something like this in the area,” Hudson said.

Hudson said he had never seen a pipe bomb in real life, but had seen them on TV dramas.

“Once I picked it up, I thought ‘I don’t think I want this as scrap metal as much as I thought I did,’” Hudson said. “I’m very glad it didn’t go off while I was holding it.”

Atchison said even though it was not a pipe bomb does not mean it was safe.

“It could have hurt someone if they were close, but luckily no one was hurt,” Atchison said.

Atchison advised people in similar situations to report suspicious items — but do not touch them.

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