A quiet Friday night ice cream run briefly turned into a bomb scare in Pleasant Prairie when a suspicious package was found outside the Dairy Queen on 75th Street, triggering evacuations and a temporary road closure. The Kenosha County Bomb Squad later neutralized the device and police said it did not pose a threat to residents or nearby businesses. Investigators are now working to find out who left the item and why it was placed against the building.
Officers were called to the restaurant at about 8:14 p.m. Friday after a caller reported what might be a hazardous device near the entrance, according to a police press release reported by TMJ4. The release lists the location as 4612 75th Street and states that several nearby businesses were evacuated while officers blocked part of 75th Street to secure the area. Authorities then brought in Kenosha County bomb technicians to examine the package and make it safe.
Bomb squad response
Bomb squad technicians assessed the suspicious package and, in police wording, "safely neutralized" it so the contents could be checked, according to FOX6. Police said it was ultimately believed to be non-hazardous. Officials did not immediately explain what exactly the device was, but stressed that the heightened response came out of an abundance of caution. According to police, the incident appears to be isolated and there is no ongoing threat as the investigation continues.
What callers described
Scanner audio shared by local outlets captured a caller describing the box as labeled "ammo box" with wires and a green hose attached, reporting from WISN shows. After the bomb squad rendered the package safe, Pleasant Prairie police reiterated that it was believed to be non-hazardous and that the evacuations were a precaution. Investigators have asked anyone with information about who might have left the item to contact the Pleasant Prairie Police Department as the case remains under review.
Bomb squad workload and safety reminder
The Kenosha County Bomb Squad is an FBI-certified regional unit that responds across Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties, according to materials from Kenosha County. Local reporting notes that the team is frequently called out for unusual finds, including live airbags and other suspicious items earlier this year, a trend documented by TMJ4. Officials reminded residents that if they see a suspicious package, they should not touch it, should move to a safe distance and should call 911 so trained personnel can respond.
After bomb technicians finished their work, officers cleared the scene and normal traffic resumed once police gave the all-clear. Pleasant Prairie police said they will share updates if new information comes in.
