HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. - Holts Summit police launched an investigation Saturday after an explosive device was discovered inside a mailbox that morning.
An elderly woman called Callaway Joint Communications around 10 a.m. after finding the device inside her mailbox located in the 200 block of Venus Street in Holts Summit, according to Sgt. Marc Haycook with the Holts Summit Police Department.
Holts Summit police arrived on scene and a technician from the Missouri State Highway Patrol bomb squad followed 20 minutes later to assess the device.
"The first technician on scene, he didn't think the device was just going to explode. ... There was no immediate threat, (no) immediate worry it was going to explode," Haycook said.
The patrol's bomb squad arrived an hour after contacted and was on scene for 45 minutes before rendering the explosive safe, Haycook said.
"What's good in this instance is they actually rendered the device safe," Haycook said. "They didn't take the device out and explode it, they rendered it safe. So, we actually have all the components of this device now, and we can use the materials to aid our investigation."
In addition to being an explosive, the device contained materials Haycook said were "designed to cause bodily harm" when detonated, but noted he could not go into specifics. He added that it was not a pipe bomb and the device never detonated.
Haycook said it does not appear that the homeowner was specifically targeted and the attack seems to be random. She has no history with the HSPD, and the department had not received any bomb threats or hoaxes leading up to Saturday's incident, Haycook added.
A single pipe bomb incident took place between 10 and 15 years ago and, aside from that, no threatening explosive situations have occurred in Holts Summit, according to Haycook.
The perpetrator most likely faces state charges and could also be charged on the federal level for tampering with a mailbox, which are considered federal property, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Haycook said the HSPD will work with postal inspectors during the investigation.
Holts Summit police blocked off 150 feet of Venus Street on Saturday as inspectors examined the explosive, and police told the homeowner to locate to a room downstairs or in the back of the house.
There are no suspects in the ongoing investigation. Haycook said anyone with information should contact the Holts Summit Police Department at (573) 896-4678.
"We ask that if anybody recalls seeing anything in the 200 block of Venus Street, they contact us," Haycook said.
He advised that if anyone encounters a suspicious device or package, to not touch or remove it, and call 911.