Police seek info about fake bomb

Staff report

NILES

Whoever placed a fake bomb near a walking trail in Kennedy Park succeeded in getting the attention they apparently wanted, but the prank could cost plenty if Niles police determine who did it.

Police ask anyone with information about the fake bomb that was found Monday morning near Fairhaven School to call Niles police at 330-652-9944, said Capt. Ken Criswell.

Putting a fake bomb in a public place could be prosecuted as a criminal offense, and the person responsible could be ordered to pay restitution for the police officers who investigated the matter.

Officers were called to the park at 9:30 a.m. by two people walking their dog through the park who noticed the device, which was made to look like sticks of dynamite.

Attached to the fake dynamite was a clear container of plastic BBs, a 9-volt battery and a radio or CD player.

The fake dynamite was just thick paper rolled up. There were no explosives inside, Criswell said.

The Youngstown Bomb Squad came to the scene to assist. Officers used pressured water around 11:45 a.m. to separate the fake dynamite from the electronics to render it harmless in case it did contain explosives.

“Most likely it was just made to look like a bomb,” Criswell said. “Probably just someone who wanted to get the reaction that they did.”

Neighbors surrounding the park and employees working in Fairhaven were notified of the situation. It doesn’t appear any of the workers at the school evacuated, Criswell said. No clients were in the school at the time.