Crime & Safety
Update: Police Investigate Devices Near Kohl's, Menards in Oak Park Heights
The discovery of four suspicious devices caused a temporary shutdown of Highway 36 near Highway 5 this morning in a shopping area of Oak Park Heights.
A portion of Minnesota Highway 36 was closed in Oak Park Heights early Tuesday after a report of a possible suspicious device was called into authorities shortly after 4:30 a.m.
Oak Park Heights Police responded to a call at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday morning for suspicious items located under the bushes near the pylon store marker sign of Kohl’s, TJ Max and Michaels at the corner of 60th Street and Krueger Lane.
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"The devices were of unknown type or origin," Oak Park Heights Police Chief Brian DeRosier said. "The items were wrapped in foil, beeping and had wires or some type of possible fuse protruding from one of the ends of each device."
Three devices were found under the sign and another device was found about 100 feet away, along the trail in the direction of Ruby Tuesday, the police chief said. The device was photographed and the photo sent to the St. Paul Bomb Squad.
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As a result, a safety perimeter was set up including eastbound Highway 36.
"The bomb squad arrived and detonated one device in place," DeRosier said. "It was determined after inspection that the devices were not of an explosive nature."
The devices are being investigated, the chief said, but appear to be some type of security device from a retailer.
Investigation is ongoing at this time.
"It is believed at this time due to the placement of the devices they were intentionally placed there," DeRosier said.
There were no injuries or damage to property.
Businesses in the area had been shut down to the public until 8 a.m., after the devices were determined safe.
Original Post
A portion of Minnesota Highway 36 was closed in Oak Park Heights early Tuesday after a report of a possible suspicious device was called into authorities shortly after 4:30 a.m.Though the shutdown was early enough to miss heavy morning rush hour traffic near the intersection of Highways 36 and 5, it did cause several commuters to divert through a detour. The frontage road was also shut down.
Two devices were found outside of stores in the area, according to a story filed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. They were both "beeping," a witness told police.
Officers who responded to the scene said the devices were not typical store security tags, and had been specifically placed by someone, not randomly thrown out of a car window.
Four devices were found, the Star Tribune report states. All were about 6 to 8 inches long and were wrapped in foil.
The St. Paul Bomb Squad responded and detonated one device. It was not an explosive.
Oak Park Heights Police are investigating.
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