State Fire Marshal, Sheriff Investigate Pipe Bomb in Mailbox

A joint investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is currently underway to determine who placed a pipe bomb inside a mailbox in Taneytown Wednesday, according to a release from the Fire Marshal. 

The owner of the property in the 3800 block of McMullen Rd., James A. Sandel, found the device at about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday when checking his mail, the Fire Marshal said. Deciding the device was a threat, sheriff's deputies notified the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Bomb technicians rendered the device safe at the scene without injury or property damage, according to the Fire Marshal. McMullen Road was closed for approximately five hours during the incident as a precaution. The Taneytown Volunteer Fire Department was on standby at the scene. 

The investigation continues to determine the individual(s) responsible for placing the device inside the mailbox. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-859-7152.