BREAKING: Citizen Brings Live Tank Round to Police Department, Prompting Evacuations

The Union City Police Department and nearby city offices were evacuated today after a resident brought a large, live tank round she discovered on the railroad tracks to the parking lot Union City Police Department, according to police officials.

“Around 1:30 pm, a citizen came to the front counter of the Union City Police Department advising she had found what appeared to be a ’very large missile’ on the railroad tracks off of Zwissig Way in Union City,” Acting Lieutenant Matias Pardo said in a statement.

According to Pardo, the citizen and her husband recovered the item and transported it to the front lot of the Union City Police Department.

“Based on the realistic appearance of the ’missile’ and the potential danger to the public, it was decided to evacuate the Police Department, City Hall, the Union City Public Library and surrounding area,” Pardo said. “The Alameda County Sheriff Department’s EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) was notified and responded to the scene. EOD arrived and examined the ’missile’ and determined, it was in fact, a live tank round. ACSO EOD took control of the round and will X-ray it at a later time.”

Pardo said a search of the area where the round was located did not yield any other ordinance. It is unknown at this time how the tank round got there. Activity was disrupted for about 45 minutes.

“The Union City Police Department will be following up on this matter,” Pardo said.

Police officials remind residents who find anything that is possibly explosive or suspicious in nature, to leave the item where you find it and notify the proper authorities immediately.

Photo courtesy Union City Police