Suspicious package in Iona detonated by bomb squad

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Story Published: Sep 29, 2009 at 8:27 AM MST

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2009 at 5:34 PM MST

By Anthony Congi

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IONA - Around 7 o'clock this morning, a cardboard box with the word "BOMB" on it was found in front of the Post Office in downtown Iona.

Not wanting to take any risks, the Iona Police evacuated the area and called in the Idaho Falls Police Department's Bomb Squad.

"You've got to treat every threat as if it's real. You don't want to go in thinking it's a hoax," explains Iona Chief of Police, Shannon Basaraba.

"It was about 12 inches by 6 inches by about 3 and masked with some tape or something like that and cardboard on top," explains Sargent, Karl Noah of the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office.

After taking x-rays of the box, the bomb squad found what appeared to be a cylinder filled with a soapy liquid inside.

A couple hours later, the bomb squad detonated the box.

"We've got enough material to collect for evidence, and we're still trying to make sure we find out what is inside of it," says Noah.

The Post Office here at Iona does not have surveillance video. However, just across the parking lot at the City Building, they do have surveillance video. And officers will go back and see if they can find something from that footage.

"We'll wait and see what happens and we'll see if we can get some leads that lead us to the individual that did this," says Basaraba.

An officer on scene, who asked not to be revealed, told me he wouldn't be surprised if the package was some type of diversion and could be related to today's bank robbery.

Police will investigate each incident separately, then look to see if they could be linked together.

Officers will also continue the investigation by interviewing neighbors in the area.

If you have any information, call the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office at 529-1200.

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