A federal law enforcement spokesman stated a search warrant executed at a residence in the Hartshorne area on Thursday resulted in the discovery and disposal of “several items that posed a significant public safety hazard.”
Residents in the Hartshorne area on social media on Thursday said explosions could be heard throughout the area.
“That is the basis of the explosions that were heard throughout town,” Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives Tulsa Resident Agent in Charge Ashley Stephens said Thursday. “We had to destroy them on site.”
Stephens said there is no longer a threat to the public after the disposal occurred.
The agent said where the residence was located, the only immediate danger was to the area of the residence and posed no danger to public safety.
“We just had to get rid of it, we couldn’t take it with us, we had to do it there,” Stephens said.
Stephens said the investigation behind the items is ongoing and that one person was taken into custody and one was released.
“During our investigation, it came to our attention that there may be some potential hazards at the residence, so we went to secure it,” Stephens said.
The agent said the disposal was held in conjunction with the Hartshorne Fire Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Bomb Squad, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Department.
Any indictments stemming from the matter will be handled by the ATF in federal court.