By Roger Lanse

An object wrapped in black electrical tape and a black wire, and containing a small amount of powder and small steel BBs, was found behind ACE Hardware Friday afternoon, Oct. 17, according to a Silver City Police Department incident report.

Originally described as appearing to have a tennis ball shape, officers determined the device was about 12 inches long and four inches in circumference, the report said.

An assistant manager at the hardware store told officers a named female told him of the device located on the hill behind the store, according to the report. The female left and the assistant manager went to look at the device and called SCPD.

When officers arrived about 4 p.m., and observed the device, they notified ACE Hardware, the Business and Conference Center and Corre Caminos and advised them to evacuate. However, the report stated only the Business and Conference Center occupants left, while those in the hardware store and Corre Caminos elected to stay inside the buildings.

Sgt. Scott Merrill of the New Mexico State Police was notified and he, in turn, contacted the NMSP Bomb Squad in Albuquerque. The bomb squad arrived on scene, X-rayed the object, and safely disrupted the device with water, according to the report.

SCPD Officer Steven Delgado spoke with Sgt. Jose Salazar of the bomb squad, who stated the device would be taken to Albuquerque and the device and information would be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.