Things got a little too historical at the Apple Valley patrol station on Thursday when a resident walked into the lobby carrying what deputies said looked like Civil War-era cannonballs, some with apparent fuses attached. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department quickly shut down access to parts of the building, set up a safety perimeter, and evacuated certain areas while specialists checked out the suspicious relics. Bomb technicians ultimately removed the items and took them to a secure location for disposal, and no injuries were reported.
Deputies told reporters the round objects appeared to be Civil War-era cannonballs with possible fuses, prompting the department to call in its bomb squad to assess and haul them away, according to CBS Los Angeles. Officials also thanked the resident for bringing the items in and used the moment as a reminder that suspected military ordnance is not something civilians should try to move or inspect on their own.
Bomb Squad Response And Ordnance Safety
Explosive ordnance disposal teams treat old munitions as if they are still live, no matter how rusty or museum-ready they may look. Standard protocol is to move or safely detonate suspicious rounds at a secure location instead of attempting a full inspection on the spot. The U.S. Army's "Recognize, Retreat, Report" guidance urges anyone who encounters possible ordnance to leave it where it is, carefully back out the way they came, and call authorities rather than touching or collecting the object, according to the U.S. Army. State police press releases routinely describe bomb squads removing old artillery shells and similar items and disposing of them under tightly controlled conditions, underscoring that even historic pieces can still be dangerous.
Local Impact And How To Report
The Apple Valley patrol station is located at 14931 Dale Evans Parkway, and residents can find its contact details through the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department site. For emergencies, officials stress that people should call 911. For non-urgent situations involving suspicious military ordnance, they advise contacting local law enforcement rather than trying to transport the items. Sheriff's officials again emphasized that the safest move is to leave such objects alone and let trained teams handle them, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
