A treasure hunter finds a pipe bomb in a church parking lot.

Salina Police contacted the Riley County Bomb Squad on Tuesday evening, after 29-year-old Jared Shirack opened a container with an explosive device in it.

Shirack tells KSAL News he had been following the clues for the Smoky Hill River Festival Medallion and was searching near the 7th Day Adventist Church at 834 N. 11th, when he spotted an oatmeal container. “I went to check it out and there was an explosive device inside,” he said.

Shirack called police just after 6pm – who then brought in the bomb squad.

According to Police Captain Chris Trocheck, the bomb had a fuse and it appeared someone had tried to ignite it. Police found a small burn spot on the concrete near the container holding the pipe bomb.

Captain Trocheck tells KSAL News that the devise was taken to the police shooting range on State Street and detonated.

There were no injuries.