Madison County Sheriff's Office
On August 8th, 2024 at 07:49 hours the Madison County Communications Center (MCCC) received a report of a suspicious package/crate outside of a residence in Laurin, Montana. A Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the location, and deemed the crate to be a possible threat to the community. Additional units were requested to respond to the location.
Upon their arrival, the residents and immediate surrounding residences near the location of the crate were evacuated for safety concerns.
Documentation on the crate indicated there was a possible contagion present, and there were materials in the crate that were consistent with an improvised explosive device. Multiple local, state, and federal agencies were notified of the potential hazards. The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missoula County Sheriff’s Bomb Squads were contacted and responded to the scene. The Madison County Public Health Department was notified as well concerning the contagion element to the incident.
The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad arrived on scene and determined the crate suspicious enough to warrant further investigation. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad arrived on scene in conjunction with a U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau Investigation Special Agent Bomb Technician.
Moments before the Missoula units arrived at the location, a local subject arrived and provided information that the incident was ultimately a prank.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Madison County Communications Center, the Madison County DES Office, the Madison County Public Health Department, the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as several other local, state and federal agencies who assisted.
The investigation is currently ongoing, and there is no current public threat.
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