Suspicious Item That Shut Down US 29 Was Metal Pipe: Fire Marshal

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A metal pipe that was found along US 29 led to the shutdown of several roads for more than three hours overnight Thursday, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The Howard County Police Department discovered the object at approximately 8:30 p.m. along US 29 south. It was located near the intersection with US 40, the fire marshal reported.

The item was described as a metal pipe with two end caps.

After police requested the bomb squad to assist, the Office of the State Fire Marshal arrived on scene and remotely rendered the item safe, officials said.

Authorities collected evidence for submission to the FBI Crime Lab for further testing in Quantico, Va.

The bomb squad was on scene for approximately three and a half hours. Emergency medical personnel and police were there as well, while firefighters were on standby at the nearest station to provide aid.

Authorities were working to determine who owned the object, according to the fire marshal.

During the investigation, police said that US 29 was closed at US 40. In addition, officials closed the section of MD 144/Frederick Road between Tollhouse Road and St. Johns Lane.

PREVIOUS REPORT — After destroying what authorities deemed a "suspicious item," police were reopening roads around US 29 Friday morning.

The road closures had been in effect for about three hours.

Officials announced that the roads were closing at 9:40 p.m. "out of an abundance of caution as police investigate [a] suspicious item."

During the investigation, drivers were advised to avoid US 29 at US 40 and MD 144/Frederick Road between Tollhouse Road and St. Johns Lane, police said just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.

"All clear, everyone's okay and roads will be reopening momentarily," police said at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Friday. "Out of an abundance of caution, the suspicious item has been destroyed. Further investigation needed to determine if criminal or not."