Suspected bomb found in Evergreen parking lot

The Daily Inter Lake

A device authorities suspect may be a pipe bomb was found Saturday night in the parking lot of the Army-Navy store on U.S. 2 in Evergreen.

The short length of pipe with both ends capped off but no visible fuse was found about 9:15 p.m., according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

After wetting down the area to reduce the possibility of an explosion, deputies in protective gear scooped up the device and placed it in the county's mobile bomb bucket. A bomb bucket is designed to contain an explosion and aim it in a harmless direction.

Authorities, who plan to destroy the device at a later date, have yet to confirm whether the pipe is actually a bomb. Rescue personnel responding to the scene evacuated and cordoned of the area until the pipe was removed.

The Evergreen Fire Department also responded to the scene.