Old military device found buried in South Florida backyard

Area was briefly evacuated as bomb squad investigated

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – A Miami Shores family was doing some landscaping in their backyard when they found an old military device that could date all the way back to the Civil War.

Police evacuated the area as a precaution Monday afternoon, and the Miami-Dade Bomb Squad responded to check out the cylindrical shell. It has since been removed and people have been let back into the neighborhood.

“The bomb squad contacted the military who responded and indicated that it is a very old, possible Civil War-era device,” said Lt. David Golt of the Miami Shores Police Department. “The military has removed the device. It is unknown at this time if it would still be active. The scene is being re-opened. There was no threat to the community.”

This old military device was found in the yard of a Miami Shores man. (Photos courtesy of Jason Alderman)

Jason Alderman lives at 357 NE 97th St. and sent Local 10 News photos of the device that can be seen above.

His family was clearing out the garden in their yard to make room for a swimming pool when the discovery was made.

“It’s pretty wild,” said neighbor Jaime Leverock, “but I guess it’s an old area.”


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.