Undefined Explosive Device (UED) event in United States of America on Thu 12th March 2026

A Fort Stewart bomb squad was called and disposed of what is being described as "basically, a cannonball" by officials from the Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) headquarters Thursday afternoon.

Around 11:30 a.m., a Chatham County resident brought an "unexploded ordinance" to the headquarters located at 295 Police Memorial Drive, according to an email from CCPD Public Information Officer Betsy Nolen.

The woman said she was "cleaning out some things in her home, said the device had been there for years, but she no longer wanted it," the email stated.

CCPD headquarters and the attached Chatham County Tax Commissioners Tag Office were closed to the public around 12:30 p.m. and reopened just before 3 p.m.

More: Suspicious package closes Chatham County Police headquarters

The CCPD email said the woman who brought the device believed the safest way to dispose of it was to take it to headquarters. However, CCPD officials emphasized that such items should never be transported to a police station or any other public place.

In the future, law enforcement encourages people to call the CCPD's non-emergency number at 912-652-6500 where the proper authorities will be sent to your home to assist you and remove the hazard safely and with a minimum of disruption.

Ansley Franco is a reporter with the Savannah Morning News, covering public safety and general assignments. You can reach her at [email protected].