Moulton
Moulton ISD
Moulton Eagle

Investigation continues into suspicious device found outside old gym

  • The investigation continues into Moulton's bomb scare Thursday. If you have any information, please contact Moulton Police Department.
    The investigation continues into Moulton's bomb scare Thursday. If you have any information, please contact Moulton Police Department.

    By BOBBY HORECKA

    Moulton Police Chief Mitchell Bennett spent hours Friday poring over video surveillance in search of clues behind Thursday’s bomb scare at the local school campus.

    With school already out for the summer, no students were ever in harm’s way when school district employees first spotted the device placed on the steps of the old gym early Thursday, Bennett said. Those employees immediately contacted police and the area was secured.

    As a precaution, residents across the street were temporarily evacuated.

    Bennett happened to be meeting with the grand jury in Hallettsville regarding the Christmastime ATM heist from a couple years’ prior, where he successfully secured several indictments on four individuals from the Houston area who were involved in that case (be watching for that story soon).

    Still, Moulton Police Officer Norma Pritchard, the sheriff’s department, Lavaca County EMS and Moulton Volunteer Fire Department helped secure the scene and get in touch with bomb squad members in Austin to investigate.

    Returned to Moulton, Bennett said he was there when the bomb squad scanned the device using thermal scanning equipment and later searched the surrounding area for any other device. None were found.

    They cleared the scene at about 2:30 p.m., he said.

    “It appears the primary device was the same type of plastic casing used to trap boll weevils,” the chief said. “The fact it contained dates and names written on it, all found alongside shell casings and other evidence, placed where it was, it was just too suspicious to ignore.”

    Especially last week, Bennett said, when the tragedy at Uvalde erupted, followed very closely behind by suspicious events/threats were made in Victoria, Gonzales, Seguin and even over at Hallettsville schools, in subsequent days.

    “There’s not much more I care to release at this point,” the chief said. “Other than to say our investigation is active ongoing. I want to thank the sheriff’s department, the Austin bomb squad, Lavaca County EMS and the Moulton Fire Department for their cooperation. It was a real team effort.”

    “We continue our investigation and reviewing the video surveillance for potential evidence,” Chief Bennet said, “so we can get charges filed against the responsible parties involved here as well."