Possible bomb in Broadway motel room turned out to be novelty item
A possible bomb discovered Monday by a maid cleaning a motel room on North Broadway turned out to be a novelty item, Wichita police said.
Police were called to the Mark 8 Inn, 1130 N. Broadway, shortly after 11:30 a.m. when the maid reported she found a timing device with explosives.
“From all appearances it did look like (an explosive) device,” Sgt. Ed Brower said. “It was a clock with wires with tubes on the side that looked like sticks of dynamite.”
About 30 people were evacuated from the motel. While waiting for the bomb squad to arrive, police talked to the man who occupied the room.
“He told us it was a novelty item,” Brower said. “But then again, we’re going to verify ourselves because of the danger that’s involved.”
Two members of the bomb squad entered the motel shortly after 1:30 p.m. They took X-rays of the item and confirmed it was harmless, Brower said.
Brower said he didn’t know why the man had the device.
Reach Rick Plumlee at 316-268-6660 or rplumlee@wichitaeagle.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rickplumlee.
This story was originally published September 1, 2014 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Possible bomb in Broadway motel room turned out to be novelty item."