Press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

On 04-24-2019 at approximately 6:00 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified of a Craigslist Ad posting the sale of Vietnam era military ordnance.  Deputies promptly initiated an investigation in order to locate and determine if the ordnance was inert. 

At approximately 6:40 p.m., Deputies located and contacted the Craigslist seller at a residence in the 30000 block of Highway 20 in Fort Bragg, California.

Deputies confirmed the seller was still in possession of the ordnance.  Deputies learned the seller acquired the two pieces of ordnance from a relative who passed away and who had also served in the military.  It was the seller’s knowledge and belief that the two pieces of ordnance were inert.

Deputies inspected the ordnance while in telephonic contact with both the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office EOD Unit and the Beale U.S. Airforce Base EOD Unit.  The initial inspection proved that one piece of ordnance was inert.  The second piece of ordnance however could not be positively deemed inert and further on-site inspection by the Beale U.S. Airforce Base EOD Unit would be required. 

Deputies initiated applicable safety measures and evacuated and secured the immediate area, pending the arrival of EOD personnel. 

At approximately 12:20 a.m., personnel with the Beale U.S. Airforce Base EOD Unit arrived and conducted further inspection of the ordnance.  EOD personnel determined that the second piece of ordnance was not inert and still contained all necessary components required to be a live explosive.  The ordnance was subsequently transported off-site by EOD personnel to a safe location where it was rendered unusable and unrepairable.   

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Beale U.S. Airforce Base for their involvement and assistance. 

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the community members affected by the evacuation, specifically for their cooperation and understanding, during a lengthy process that was required in order to bring this event to a safe resolution.