Suspected mortar shell brought into Essex police station prompts evacuation

A “well-meaning resident” brought what they believed was an unexploded mortar shell into the Public Safety Building in Essex on Monday, prompting an evacuation, police said.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the resident entered the lobby of the Essex Police Department with the “suspicious device” they said they had found while metal detecting on their property, according to a statement the department.

Authorities immediately evacuated the building as a precaution. Firefighters staged outside while officials awaited the arrival of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad to investigate the device. 

The bomb squad arrived within an hour and used X-ray imaging to determine the device was not explosive, police said. 

“It appears the [device] was an empty fuel canister that resembles an aged and rusting mortar shell,” police said in the statement. 

Although officials said the resident appeared to be “well-meaning,” the incident caused “significant disruption,” police said. 

The department is urging the public not to bring potentially dangerous items into public safety buildings. Instead, anyone who discovers a suspicious device should leave it in place and call 911, Police Chief Thomas Shamshak Jr. said.

“I’m advising the public that suspected explosive devices should never be moved or transported,” he said. 

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