AZ: Suspected pipe bomb closes 202

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Katie Nelson
The Arizona Republic

TEMPE - An East Valley freeway was shut down for almost two hours Monday after what looked like a pipe bomb was found.

An Arizona Department of Transportation landscape worker found an 8-inch piece of pipe in the gravel on the Red Mountain Freeway, said Frank Valenzuela, state Department of Public Safety spokesman. It was about 50 yards west of Center Road in a median between the westbound lanes and a frontage road.
The yellow-tinted metal pipe had caps screwed into both ends, Venezuela said. Flash marks made it look like it had been set on fire.

The DPS' bomb squad was brought in to investigate the section of Loop 202 between Priest Drive and Rural Road.About 9:30 a.m., DPS officers shut down the westbound portion of the freeway with the help of Tempe police. Ninety minutes later, the bomb squad used a robot to shoot a water cannon at the device to see if it contained explosives. At that time, the eastbound portion of Loop 202 was shut down, Valenzuela said.

Once the water cannon was used, investigators determined the pipe was empty. Further tests will look for residue. "We're not sure who put it together or why it's on the side of the road," Valenzuela said. If someone is linked to the pipe piece, charges could be pressed, he said. The DPS bomb squad investigates objects found on Arizona roads about once a month. They are typically suitcases or bags found in "suspicious" places, Valenzuela said.
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