Bomb squad called to Betras' office for what appeared to be pipe bomb

CANFIELD

A nonexplosive pipe bomb was found outside a broken window of the Betras law office Thursday morning.

Dave Betras, Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, arrived to find a broken window on the second story of his law office, Betras, Kopp & Harshman LLC, on Seville Drive in Canfield Township.

Outside the window on the ground was a pipe bomb. “Out of an abundance of caution, we called the sheriff,” Betras said.

The window did not belong to anyone specific in the office, Betras added.

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Cardinal Joint Fire District and the Youngstown Police Department Bomb Squad were all at the business.

The bomb squad arrived before 10 a.m. and sent in a small robot to get a look at the device. After that, a member of the bomb squad got in a full protective suit and was driven up to the business. Authorities were set up in the Stifel Nicolaus & Co. office, and that building also was evacuated during the incident.

The officer walked up and set off a disruptive device against the bomb, Youngstown police Lt. Douglas Bobovnyik said.

About 10:40 a.m., someone yelled out, “Fire in the hole!” and the disruptive device was activated.

Had it been a live bomb, it would have exploded.

Read what actually happened in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.