ST. LOUIS COUNTY – Explosive devices were found multiple times at a St. Louis County park. And 5 On Your Side learned the public wasn't informed for weeks.
A homemade device was found on April 25, April 27 and again on May 1 at McDonnell Park in north St. Louis County. Police didn't say anything until a tipster told 5 On Your Side and we started asking questions.
That news was upsetting to Joseph Carrel. In warm weather, he and his family and friends visit the park’s playground once a week.
“It's not good. Families come out here all the time,” said Carrel. “I wouldn't want my family to come out here and an explosion happen and someone get hurt and end up in the hospital.”
A tipster described the devices as pipe bombs and said one was found in grass near a trash can. Witnesses said rangers cleared the park when the devices were found.
St. Louis County police said the suspicious devices weren't exactly pipe bombs and bomb and arson investigators said the devices were already "spent" when they were found.
But, police couldn't say whether the devices were set off in the park, or somewhere else and simply dumped there.
Carrel finds it odd that police didn't say anything about what happened until weeks later.
“I think they were kind of trying to protect us so we wouldn't get scared and not want to come back to the park,” he said. “But at the same time, I think they should've told us so we could be aware and keep an eye out.”
St. Louis County police spokesman Ben Granda said in an email, "If we felt this deserved the attention of the public and that safety was in jeopardy, we would have made notification earlier. There is no need to alarm the public without reason.”
Carrel hopes whoever left the devices in the park is found so it doesn't happen again.
Granda said this is an open investigation. Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
