One device appearing to be a pipe bomb was detonated safely by state officers Thursday (3-1-2012) at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the evidence supervisor said.

Evidence Technician Lieutenant Phillip Martin explained that a citizen brought the device to the sheriff’s office.

Lieutenant Martin said, “The state Bomb and Arson and Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Bomb Squad responded to the sheriff’s office, reviewed the device and rendered the device safe.”

State agencies will investigate.

He warned, “If a device is found or something you feel is a real device, call your local law enforcement agency. Do not transport the device in your vehicle. Allow qualified and certified law enforcement officers to handle the item.”