© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pekin City Hall Evacuated To Remove Pipe Bomb

Pekin City Hall was evacuated Thursday, March 8, 2018, after police found a pipe bomb in a safe they had confiscated Wednesday during an arrest.
Tanya Koonce
/
Peoria Public Radio
Pekin City Hall was evacuated Thursday, March 8, 2018, after police found a pipe bomb in a safe they had confiscated Wednesday during an arrest.
Pekin City Hall was evacuated Thursday, March 8, 2018, after police found a pipe bomb in a safe they had confiscated Wednesday during an arrest.
Credit Tanya Koonce / Peoria Public Radio
/
Peoria Public Radio
Pekin City Hall was evacuated Thursday, March 8, 2018, after police found a pipe bomb in a safe they had confiscated Wednesday during an arrest.

  A pipe bomb at Pekin City Hall Thursday made a momentary scare and a real-time test of emergency response practices.  

Peoria Police Bomb Squad vehicle outside Pekin City Hall Thursday, March 8, 2018.
Peoria Police Bomb Squad vehicle outside Pekin City Hall Thursday, March 8, 2018.

  Pekin Police found a pipe bomb in a safe that was confiscated in the course of an investigation Wednesday. Pekin Police Spokeswoman Billie Ingles says officers had to obtain a warrant before opening the safe.

“They opened the safe. There was a pipe bomb inside of it and they evacuated the building, called out emergency services, Peoria Bomb Squad. They came and took care of the bomb,” Ingles said.

  

The Peoria Bomb Squad robot that retrieved the pipe bomb inside the police station at Pekin City Hall Thursday, March 8, 2018, is safely back in its vehicle and ready to head home.
Credit Tanya Koonce / Peoria Public Radio
/
Peoria Public Radio
The Peoria Bomb Squad robot that retrieved the pipe bomb inside the police station at Pekin City Hall Thursday, March 8, 2018, is safely back in its vehicle and ready to head home.

  Tazewell County doesn't have a bomb team, making the mutual aid necessary. Peoria’s Bomb Squad Robot obtained the device and detonated it safely in a blast protection bin.

  The total matter was handled in about two hours. But Pekin Police say the man who was arrested Wednesday when the safe was confiscated is facing additional questions.  

 

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Tanya Koonce is the former news director at WCBU in Peoria.
Related Content