Pottawatomie County officials search for, but find no bomb

Thursday, April 28th 2005, 6:37 am

By: News On 6

WANETTE, Okla. (AP) A search for a bomb that was to be detonated at a school here turned up no explosive devices, but may have discouraged the alleged perpetrators for trying anything, authorities said Wednesday.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol bomb squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's office converged on a residence to look for a possible explosive device, but nothing was found.

Sheriff Kurt Shirey said the investigation began about noon after a Wanette student told a teacher about seeing something at a residence a day earlier. The student described the device and sheriff's deputies received information there was talk to detonate the item for fun at one of the school buildings when school wasn't in session, he said.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for one house, and consent was given to search another house in Wanette, but nothing was located at either home, Shirey said.

A two-block area was evacuated during the search of one of the houses, he said. Two people were interviewed about the case, but no arrests were made.

While no device or any evidence of materials were found, Shirey said investigators believe some type of device may have existed.

``We hope we've thwarted any ideas or efforts,'' he said.