Pipe bomb spurs residential evacuation

WEST VALLEY CITY — Nearly a dozen homes were evacuated Monday afternoon after a pipe bomb was found inside a mailbox.

The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. near 4500 South and 5200 West. A man found what appeared to be an explosive device wrapped in black tape inside his mailbox, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

A fuse in the cylinder object had been lit but did not go off, he said.

The fire department used a robot to remove the pipe bomb from the mailbox.

Officials determined the device was real, McLachlan said.

Detectives believe the pipe bomb was placed in the mailbox at random and the house was not specifically targeted.