March 26, 2024

A hiker and his son found what appeared to be a pipe bomb in a remote area near the community of Hillside, in western Yavapai County, last Friday.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the pair stumbled on an ammo can hidden within some boulders, with a detonation cord, black powder and 2-inch galvanized pipe.

Responding deputies requested the help of the Arizona Department of Public Safety bomb squad, who used a robot to safely remove the items from the ammo can. The pipe did not have any explosives inside it, but the Sheriff’s Office says there was enough black powder and other components to create a potentially-devastating Improvised Explosive Device.

The bomb squad did a controlled detonation of the powder and cord; and a K-9 did not find any other indication of explosives in the area. There are currently no suspects in this case.

Josh Freeman | KAZM News Director | josh@mellowmountainradio.com