Valley Springs, CA…On January 23, 2021 at about 10:45 AM The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch center received a report from an East Bay Municipal District Employee regarding a possible “pipe bomb” in the 2000 block of Campo Seco Rd., Campo Seco. The employee reported the device was placed near a portable restroom and appeared to have malfunctioned. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and deputies were sent to investigate. Upon arrival, they located a homemade improvised explosive device. The device appeared to be an air tank that is commonly used in paintball sports. The device was about 9 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter. The air tank was filled with gun powder and had a fuse in the neck. The device appeared to have failed to function and detonate as designed. The device was rendered safe by the Calaveras County Bomb Squad. It was determined the destructive potential of this device could have caused serious injury.

This is an ongoing investigation at this time. No further information is available.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) was established in 1996. The EOD unit is a tactical team that responds to explosives related incidents including found explosives, improvised explosive devices (IED) and suspicious packages. Members of the unit are also trained to conduct full post blast investigations which include analysis and forensic study. The team is a regional asset and is relied upon to provide EOD related incident resolution to neighboring jurisdictions Last year, the team responded to 19 calls for service involving explosive items.

Deputies who are assigned to the EOD Unit receive their initial training and certification through an intensive FBI Hazardous Device School. In addition to the FBI training, they are also cross-trained as hazardous materials specialists. Trainings are conducted each month to ensure that each member is maintaining proficiency in all of the required skills. Members are required to recertify with the FBI every three years.

As an ongoing effort to reduce equipment replacement cost, the EOD team coordinates with federal agencies to receive equipment at no cost to the department. Items which are required from the Federal Government are inventoried and put into service during the team’s monthly trainings.

Recent items which were received from Federal Agencies include specialized robots which can be used to examine, transport, or render explosives safe.