Published: April 23, 2009 05:56 pm      

BREAKING NEWS: PIPE BOMB FOUND ON JASPER ROADSIDE

An unexploded pipe bomb was discovered planted on a Jasper roadside this morning and destroyed by a Gainesville bomb squad.

"Around 10 this morning, a passing motorist noticed a piece of PVC sticking up from the side of the road along SE 54th Drive just down from Harvest Fellowship Church and called it in," said Sheriff J. Harrell Reid.

Deputies who respond quickly alerted Reid of the possibility of a pipe bomb. The Alachua County Bomb Disposal Team from Gainesville was called in to assist.

According to Reid, the pipe was sticking up in the ground, had a hole drilled in the end and appeared to have had a fuse lit from that end.

"For whatever reason, it didn't go off," said Reid.

A four-man team from the Alachua County Bomb Disposal Unit responded, bringing with them a robotic recovery and detonation unit.

After the area was secured the robot was dispatched by remote control to the pipe bomb where it placed the pipe on its side. At approximately 1:55 p.m., the “fire in the hole” command was given and a high velocity water cannon fired a projectile into the side of the pipe, breaking it into pieces and sufficiently neutralizing the bomb's capabilities.

Remnants of the pipe bomb were collected and will be taken to a lab for examination, testing and fingerprinting, according to Reid. At this point, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office will be working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as the investigation continues.