WINFIELD, KS — An investigation into unclaimed property took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when Cowley County Sheriff’s deputies discovered what appeared to be an unknown device, prompting a response from explosive experts.
Incident Timeline
According to Cowley County Sheriff Dave Falletti, the incident began on December 9 when sheriff’s deputies, during an active investigation, located unclaimed property in the 1500 block of Main Street in Winfield.
The item was initially collected and brought back to the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office for further examination. It was during this evaluation process that an additional, suspicious item—described as an “unknown device”—was discovered.
Bomb Squad Response
Adhering to safety protocols, the Sheriff’s Office immediately contacted the Wichita Bomb Squad, which responded to the location to safely retrieve the item.
To ensure public safety during the operation, the area south of the Cowley County Courthouse was temporarily closed.
The Sheriff’s Office released no additional details late Tuesday. The investigation into the nature of the device and its origins is ongoing.
