By Pat Reavy
Deseret News
HERBER CITY, Utah — The Wal-Mart Supercenter in Heber City was evacuated Friday after police found what they believed was a pipe bomb left in the bathroom by a Utah State Prison inmate. Heber Police Chief Dave Booth said the incident began before noon with a work-release crew.
“There was a Utah State Prison inmate crew doing asbestos removal at the old Wasatch High School,” Booth said. “One of their inmates walked away and was found by our officers in Wal-Mart asking for a ride. We have since placed him under arrest for escape. And, in the process of doing that, (we) found what we believe to be some type of explosive device in the bathroom where he was found.”
The Utah County sheriff’s bomb squad was called to assist. The Wal-Mart store was evacuated, as were surrounding businesses and parking lots, Booth said. Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook said the inmate was part of a minimum-security crew that had been working in Heber City for a while.
“He hasn’t had any pattern of something that would make us be unusually concerned about him,” he said. "(It was) sort of a surprise.”
Full story: Heber Wal-Mart evacuated after inmate leaves device at store, police say