South Bend bomb squad and US Air Force part of Tuesday morning investigation in Plymouth
PLYMOUTH, Ind. -- A scary scene in Plymouth, bringing in bomb experts and forcing neighbors out of their homes.
The United States Air Force, the South Bend bomb squad, and officers from multiple departments rushing in, after a contractor working on a house discovered US military ammunition from the days of World War Two.
Neighbors who spoke to ABC57 Tuesday on West Lake Avenue say they were surprised by the discovery so close to their homes.
"It's more concerning that you could be living next to something like that and not know," said Kane Howard, nearby resident.
Kane Howard lives just a few houses down from the home where a contractor found the World Wart Two-era items late Monday afternoon, including large tank rounds.
"The people that were cleaning out the house yesterday informed the police about it, and they called around. They tried to dispose of it yesterday, but they couldn't get rid of it because it was something to do with an old military ordnance, so they called Grissom and that's why they had to wait until this morning," said Jamie Hall, nearby resident.
The explosive ordnance disposal team from Grissom Air Reserve Base waited until Tuesday morning to investigate the scene, as they try not to operate at night if possible.
"We sent in a team of four technicians, who took measurements of the items, and looked them up on military TOs, so we were able to get a positive ID based on the nomenclature, the size, and width of the items, and then after that, the team conducted x-ray diagnostics to verify that any explosive filler that may have been in the items, had been removed," said Sgt. Justin Krautkremer, 434th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Superintendent.
Once the items were deemed safe, the removal process began.
Those who live nearby tell ABC57 the house was purchased in a tax sale, but they haven't seen anyone living there in some time.
"The whole thing was kind of a shock, I told my friend and they didn't believe me that it was going on," said Hall.
"I'm glad they were safely stored and it wasn't a violent occurrence that they could have been used for but I'm just glad it's over and everyone's safe," said Howard.
After the items were removed from the home, they were turned over to South Bend and Plymouth police.