What started as routine yard work in Middletown yesterday turned into a history-flavored bomb scare when a homeowner, digging around the base of an old oak tree, uncovered what looked very much like a cannonball. Butler County bomb technicians were called to the property and, after checking it out on scene, safely removed the object. A bomb specialist later identified it as a solid-shot cannonball, about 4.75 inches across and weighing nearly eight pounds.
According to FOX19, the Butler County Bomb Squad arrived at the Middletown home around 1:30 p.m., and the sheriff’s office shared word of the recovery on its Facebook page. In that post, and as noted by the station, officials again reminded residents not to handle anything that might be military ordnance and to call local law enforcement so that trained technicians can take over.
How the bomb squad handles finds
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office explains on its teams page that the Bomb Squad operates two response trucks and uses robots and portable digital x-ray equipment to check out suspicious items, with technicians undergoing regular recertification. That combination of tools and training lets the unit inspect, secure, and move potential ordnance while keeping both residents and officers at a safe distance.
Why officials urge caution
This is not the first time the squad has been called out for what looked like historic ordnance. Earlier this spring, the unit responded to an Oxford Township home to remove what appeared to be a Civil War-era round, as reported in this Civil War cannonball scare. Federal experts note that 19th-century artillery and shells can still contain black powder or intact fuses, which is why explosive-ordnance teams are brought in to evaluate and dispose of these finds safely, per the National Park Service.
Officials are again stressing that anyone who comes across an item that looks like military ordnance should leave it where it is, move to a safe distance, and call 911 or local law enforcement instead of trying to pick it up or haul it away. The Butler County Sheriff’s Office and its partner agencies regularly urge residents to report suspicious items so bomb technicians can assess them and, if needed, dispose of them safely.
