March 22, 2022 – Mayetta, KAN – Tribal Police closed down Buffalo Drive and enforced a perimeter after officers found a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while serving a search warrant at a residence there.
During the search, officers discovered what appeared to be the IED in a bedroom closet at the home. In response to the discovery, officers evacuated residents in the area to ensure their safety.
Chief Clark said that Tribal Fire/ EMS was called to the area in the event that emergency aid would be required. Assistance from the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) bomb team was requested.
Since these events took place in the afternoon and the MTAA was responding from Topeka, Tribal Police alerted administrators at the Royal Valley School district asking them to reroute busses to ensure the safety of children returning home. This also allowed the school to contact parents and advise them of the changes in the bus routes.
An MTAA bomb technician entered the residence in the late afternoon and determined that the device was not capable of exploding and the scene was declared safe at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Prairie Band Potawatomi Chairman Joseph Rupnick, said, “On behalf of the Council I would like to commend our officers on their quick thinking and rapid action to ensure the safety of everyone in the area had this been a functional explosive. This is the kind of situation that shows how our Tribal Police handle themselves under pressure.”
Rupnick also thanked the Tribal Fire/EMS and the MTAA for their rapid action and assistance in resolving this situation safely.
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a federally recognized sovereign nation with 4,488 members. The common land is located near Mayetta, 18 miles North of Topeka, Kansas. Further information can be found at www.pbpindiantribe.com.
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