Old Rock From Mine Site Causes Bomb Scare

Sonora, Ca — The Sonora Police Department was dispatched to Trunkenmiller Rd. Tuesday for a report of suspicious looking wires protruding from a hole in a large rock.

Officers investigated and noticed a two inch hole drilled into the rock, something that is normally associated with blasting efforts. The Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department Bomb Squad was called in and detonated the hole, resulting in an explosion.

Lt. Mark Stinson says the Police Department has determined that the rock had been transported to the area from an old mine site and left in an open field. The rock was then likely pushed up against a hillside around the late 1990´s.

It is believed that explosive gel had been placed in the rock at the mine site, but never detonated for whatever reason. The rock was then transported the Truckenmiller Rd. location, where it sat undiscovered for an unknown length of time.

Written by BJ Hansen