City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 17, 2015

CONTACT: Officer Latisha Stroer, Public Information Officer
Columbia Police Department
(573)874-7448
[email protected]

The Columbia Police Department Investigates a Suspicious Device

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

THE COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES A SUSPICIOUS DEVICE

On 8/17/15 at 5:10 P.M., officers were dispatched to a suspicious device at 201 E. Texas Avenue, Red Roof Inn. A person found the suspicious device in the vacant parking lot to the east of Red Roof Inn and brought the device into the Red Roof Inn. Employees called Joint Communications and set off the fire alarm to evacuate the motel.

Once officers arrived on scene they located the suspicious device and contacted the Mid-Missouri Bomb Squad.  Officers evacuated the second building of the Red Roof Inn.  The agencies assisting the Columbia Police Department on scene were:  Columbia Fire Department, Boone County Sheriff's Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The robot was sent into the building to recover the suspicious device.  The robot exited the building with the device which was discovered to be an explosive device capable of doing damage.  The explosive device was rendered safe at 8:30 P.M. 

The Columbia Fire Department reset the fire alarm. Columbia Police Officers searched both building of Red Roof Inn to make sure it was safe for employees and guests to enter the building. There have been no arrests made and the investigation is ongoing.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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