FREEHOLD – It’s unclear how it got there. But the bomb squad was called to take it out.
A Vietnam-era mortar was found in the basement of a Freehold Township home, according to media reports.
The New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit was called in to remove it from 41 Pittenger Pond Road. The item was removed and placed in the home’s backyard.
Freehold Township Police issued a statement shortly after 2 p.m. about the incident.
“The caller advised police that he had inherited the home on Pittenger Pond Road from his father and was in the process of cleaning the home when he made the discovery. The explosive device is believed to be an 81 millimeter mortar from the Vietnam War era. The caller had advised police that his father had been a Vietnam War Veteran. Officers Jason Nodine #245 and Daniel Rehberg #247 secured the scene and ensured that the surrounding area was safe. The New Jersey State Police and Ft. Dix Department of Defense (D.O.D) Explosive unit had been contacted and the mortar was removed by Ft. Dix D.O.D. for disposal,” Freehold Police Det. Sgt. Russell Gelber said.
