Pipe bomb scare at memorial

A piece of plastic pipe spotted lying underneath the bleachers at the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony on Thursday prompted a call to the bomb squad that was eventually canceled.

According to Sheriff Ken Furlong, someone at the memorial noticed the white tube with both ends sealed lying under the bleachers during the ceremony.

Furlong said officers "very discreetly" removed the item from the area without alerting or interrupting the ceremony. They then placed it into an open area and covered it with a Kevlar helmet to await the arrival of the Douglas County Bomb Squad. A call also was put out to the Parks and Recreation Department for someone to come by and see if the item belonged on the bleachers.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, the memorial's keynote speaker, also was informed of the incident, said Furlong.

Before the bomb squad arrived, however, the parks employee made it to the scene.

When a deputy gingerly lifted the helmet, the employee grabbed the pipe, unscrewed one end and pulled out the registration for the trailer the bleachers were moved on.