Police seeking military contraband in Texas

[BEER980]

Texas City Sun article. Keep you eyes open GalvestonDuck

Published November 27, 2003

Police in Galveston County, Harris County and surrounding areas are on the lookout for a station wagon that could be carrying three 2.75 rocket practice warheads.

Police said the station wagon, that was described as a tan, older model vehicle, was last seen yesterday in Galveston around 3 p.m. near Port Industrial Boulevard.

Lt. Matt Stanich of the Galveston Police Department Criminal Investigation division said local police departments received a teletype message from the Department of Public Safety which alerted officers to the possible location of the vehicle.

Stanich said the report did not state any specific suspects and did not indicate if any charges had been filed.

Stanich said practice military warheads are usually painted blue and will produce an explosion.

Stanich said he did not now how big of an explosion the warheads could produce but he did not think they could take down a plane or a helicopter.

Texas City Police Lt. Ross Clements said he thought the practice warheads could be dangerous.

Clements said all Texas City police officers have taken classes in basic bomb awareness, but if they come across a bomb-type situation they would likely employ the help of other agencies such as the FBI bomb squad out of Houston.

Stanich said practice military warheads “are not that difficult to obtain.”

Stanich said the situation is “something of concern,” and if the Galveston Police Department locates the vehicle, “we will take the appropriate action.”

[GalvestonDuck]

[ Stanich said he did not now how big of an explosion the warheads could produce but he did not think they could take down a plane or a helicopter.

Texas City Police Lt. Ross Clements said he thought the practice warheads could be dangerous.

I'd say so...especially with the oil refineries and such nearby. Wouldn't do much good down here if they wanted to take down a plane. That would require being further north near one of the Houston airports. I don't seen many flying over head this far near the coast. One thing is for sure....if I spotted it, you wouldn't hear about it being "last seen" somewhere. I'd keep an eye on it and call 911 on my cell until authorities caught up with it. It's been over 24 hours since they saw it so it may very well be in Houston now or on it's way to wherever they intend to take it.

Weird that the article didn't say where they obtained it or how they knew this vehicle was carrying these explosives. The only thing I can figure is that maybe it was a ferry coming from Bolivar and maybe someone walking between the cars or up on one of the decks during the ferry crossing saw something and had questions about it after the boat unloaded.

*shrugging shoulders*

Oh, well...if I see it, I'll do what needs to be done. But I'm not going out on a search. It could be anywhere now.

Thanks for the alert, Beer!