Small explosions cause resident to call Columbia Police

The Mid-Missouri Bomb Squad removed seven "suspicious devices" from Mary Beth Litofsky's home on Highlands Parkway Saturday morning. Three of the bottles, which had likely been filled with cleaning chemicals, had exploded the night before. Police are investigating the incident.   ¦  Courtesy of Columbia Police Department

COLUMBIA — Seven "suspicious devices" were found at a Columbia home Saturday morning after the resident called the police, according to a news release from the Columbia Fire Department.

Mary Beth Litofsky of 5500 Highlands Parkway heard small explosions outside her house late Friday night, she said. When she went outside to investigate, she found a plastic bottle filled with liquid on her front step and three bottles that had already exploded on the driveway and in the grass near her house.

She called the Police Department Saturday morning. The Mid-Missouri Bomb Squad responded to the scene, including officers from the Columbia Police Department, the Columbia Fire Department and the MU Police Department, according to the release.

The bomb squad used a remotely controlled vehicle to move the devices away from the house before making the devices safe, the release said.

Columbia Police Sgt. Ken Gregory said the bottles were probably filled with cleaning fluids that ended up exploding. These types of incidents are not common but it could have been kids playing, he said.

The Columbia Police Department is currently investigating the incident.