CENTERVILLE — It looked like it could have caused some serious damage. But instead, it turned out only to be a dud.
The Deseret Industries thrift store, 168 E. Pages Lane, was briefly evacuated after a customer tried to buy a military ordnance that had been donated. The 106mm High Explosive Plastic shell was in a large tube, said Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child.
"This is something that could do some major damage. It's designed to take out tanks," he said. "Upon our initial observation, it appeared to be intact and able to fire or explode."
Police ordered an evacuation of the building and roads were blocked off in the surrounding area. But after Davis County bomb technicians responded and examined the device, they determined that it was not able to explode.
"He gave us the all clear," Child said. "The evacuation of the store had just started and was not completed at the time it was determined to be safe."
The military device had been donated about a week ago and was put on display in the "collectables" department, the lieutenant said. A customer purchased the round and took it home. But after examining the device, the customer decided that it may not be safe so he returned it to the store and police were called.
— Pat Reavy