Janice R. Andrews
February 4, 2024, Bellevue, Washington
A military-grade rocket was reportedly found in a man’s garage, sparking fears about national security. This was a shocking turn of events that prompted authorities in Bellevue, Washington, to investigate. A local tried to give the rocket to the Dayton, Ohio, Air Force Museum, which is where the event started.
The strange finding was made when a resident of Bellevue got in touch with the museum to donate something that had belonged to a deceased neighbour. The neighbour apparently bought the rocket, which was identified as a Douglas AIR-2 Genie and was intended to carry a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead, at an estate sale.
The Bellevue Police Department looked into the matter right away, along with bomb squad officers. Officials examined the rocket and determined that it was not a direct threat because it was devoid of rocket fuel and had no warhead. After it was determined that the device was inert, it became a historical relic that posed no explosive risk.
Surprisingly, the police left the rocket with the neighbour with the intention of restoring it and putting it on display in a museum. The Bellevue Police made some amusing remarks about this strange incident on the X social media platform, riffing on the famous song “Rocket Man” by Elton John: “We think it’s gonna be a long, long time before we get another call like this again.”
As the investigation progresses, concerns regarding how a rocket of that calibre found its way into the hands of a civilian are raised, underscoring the necessity of extra security protocols and caution while handling potentially hazardous artefacts. The event serves as a reminder of the unforeseen difficulties law enforcement organisations encounter in preserving public safety.
