Homemade explosive device found in Wheaton
No one was injured Tuesday afternoon when a homemade explosive device was found in a Wheaton park on the city's south side, authorities said Wednesday.
Wheaton Park District employees about 3 p.m. Tuesday discovered a small cardboard tube emitting smoke on top of a pile of mulch at Brighton Park along Brighton Drive. At about the same time, students were seen exiting a school bus near the park.
Deputy Chief Tom Meloni said in a statement that the park district employees extinguished the device by stomping on it. They then brought the approximately 6-inch-by-3-inch cone-shaped cardboard device to the park district headquarters and called police.
Meloni said an inspection of the device revealed that it was a homemade explosive device made of paper, masking tape and an unknown powder. Technicians from the DuPage Sheriff's Bomb Unit advised that such homemade devices can be extremely dangerous, Meloni said.
When police officers searched the Brighton Park area, no similar or other suspicious devices were found.
Police advised that residents should never touch a suspicious device. Instead, they should immediately call 911 and clear the area.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Det. Cmdr. James Volpe at (630) 260-2056.