Lake Pueblo Closed After Device Found

Inside an unattended camper found parked below the spillway was a video camera pointed at the dam. It was later determined to be harmless.

March 31, 2004
By Patrick Malone
The Pueblo Chieftain

Photo: Lake Pueblo's spillway

A suspicious device inside a camper spurred the evacuation of Lake Pueblo State Park for two hours on Tuesday.

Bomb technicians with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department found the device to be harmless. However, at first appearance, the contraption was questionable.

At about 4:15 p.m., Deputy Eric Medina, who was on patrol at the lake, was alerted to a 1976 Chevrolet camper van with Texas license plates. It was parked near a ranger station at the south entrance to the park facing the dam and spillway with a video camera trained on the dam.

The camera was attached to numerous cords, which linked it to a computer printer and an amp meter (initially believed to be a timer). Two of the three doors to the van were bolted closed.

After an initial inspection of the vehicle by Medina and Colorado Park Ranger John Perez, about 50 people were forced to evacuate the park and deputies denied entry to any more visitors.

"I was talking with Mr. Perez about how suspicious it looked," Medina said. "Backed in the way it was, with a camera pointed at the dam and all the wires hanging from it, we came to the conclusion that caution was the best option."

Photo: Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino talks about a suspicious vehicle parked below Lake Pueblo Dam Tuesday afternoon after it was determined to be free from explosives. Roads through the dam were closed for almost two hours and about 50 people evacuated. (Chieftain Photo/Chris Mclean)

Along with the sheriff's department and park rangers, the FBI and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were alerted to the situation.

"This turned out to be a great exercise, if you will," Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino said. "I'm pleased with the way the park was cleared so quickly and command centers and perimeters were established."

After the vehicle was determined to be safe, traffic to the park was reopened at about 6:30 p.m.

The van was registered to a Texas man, and evidence inside the van indicated he may have been away with his dog. Its owner had not been contacted by deputies as of press time.

"I commend Deputy Medina for being so cognizant of the environment at the reservoir," Corsentino said. "You can never be too careful in this age of terrorism, even in Pueblo County."

Corsentino said safety at the state park has been emphasized since the 9/11 terrorist attack.

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1080716400/1