Device was transported to Newtowne State Park and detonated
ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. (December 31, 2012)—A St. Mary's man discovered a live WWI-era anti-ship mine along the shoreline of his father's property in Hollywood Sunday afternoon. The man, Stephen Hassay, believed the device was inert and transported it back to his home in his pickup truck before notifying authorities, who later advised that the device was live and capable of exploding.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on December 30, Hassay was walking along the Cuckold Creek shoreline of his father’s property in the 24000 block of Half Pone Point Road in Hollywood when he located what he thought to be an old buoy. Upon loading the device he located a placard attached to the outer shell revealing the device was a U.S. Navy mine. Believing the device to be inert, he transported the device in the back of his pick-up truck to his home in the 45000 block of Nats Creek Road and notified authorities of the located item.
The subsequent investigation revealed the device was still live and required military assistance to render the device safe. The Newtowne State Park was chosen as the largest and safest location to explode the mine underground to ensure the safety of the public. The State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the 55th Army EOD Team from Fort Belvoir, Virginia transported the mine to the park where it was rendered safe at 5:10 a.m. this morning with no reports of injuries or property damage loss.
Maryland State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard reminds the public to practice the “3 R’s” when military ordnance is located. “Recognize that any suspicious objects found should not be touched under any circumstances.
Retreat or carefully leave the area. Report immediately what was found and its approximate location to a 911 dispatcher.”