Bomb disposal unit uses robot to break apart suspicious object near South Ridge Drive

By Collin Gallant on July 26, 2017.

Medicine Hat News

Traffic was halted for more than four hours on a busy south end road Tuesday as Medicine Hat police used a bomb disposal robot to break apart a suspicious object found near the busy road.

In the end, the object was deemed ‘non-suspicious’ by the police.

Officers diverted traffic from getting within two blocks of the intersection of Sage Road and South Ridge Drive after what looked like a plastic cylinder, plugged at both ends, was found on the roadway at about 1 p.m.

Traffic was reopened completely by 5:30 p.m., about 90 minutes after a police robot fired two concussion rounds at the tube, breaking off one end.

“The area is completely reopened to the public, the (object) have been removed and there’s no risk to the public,” said a police spokesperson.

The Major Crimes division of the police department is investigating and more information is expected to be released Wednesday.