TONASKET, Wash. – Okanagan County Sheriff Paul Budrow says a cylindrical explosive device containing black powder was found in the center of a popular community trail in Tonasket.
According to Sheriff Budrow, the device was reported to authorities after a woman walking on the trail actually picked up the device. She felt it was warm, so she dropped it and informed authorities.
“I believe that if this lady didn’t call us, and just thought it was another thing, garbage on the ground, that someone would have gotten hurt by this item,” Budrow said.
The location concerning due to high traffic by locals.
“Someone else could have easily, easily, kicked or touched it, picked it up, brought it home,” Budrow said.
The eyewitness account confirmed that the bomb was found in the middle of the trail.
“I believe it was put there on purpose just because of where it was and how it was placed,” Budrow said.
Though the IED was near Tonasket High School, Sheriff Budrow noted that investigators do not believe the school was targeted.
“It was a good distance away, but it was on a community path. So, I think if it was targeted at someone, it would be targeted at random people,” Budrow said.
However, Budrow emphasized that this is speculation, as the investigation is ongoing.
“We don’t have a suspect who we know why he did this or she did this, but, we’re in the world of trying to figure that out right now,” Budrow said.
School and after school activities were cancelled in the Tonasket School District on Friday.
