Members of the Dane County Bomb Squad prepare to enter Goodwill to remove a possible explosive device found among donated items. JNR photo by Dan Plutchak
Members of the Dane County Bomb Squad prepare to enter Goodwill to remove a possible explosive device found among donated items. JNR photo by Dan Plutchak

JANESVILLE — Employees were able to safely return to work Friday after the Goodwill store near Woodman’s in Janesville was evacuated when employees found what police say was a live explosive device in donated items.

Janesville police were called about 10 a.m. for a report of the suspicious device.

Goodwill was quickly evacuated, along with Woodman’s and other adjacent businesses.

Bomb technicians with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad determined the suspicious explosive device to be a live cluster bomblet. 

The device was collected by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and will be destroyed. 

The Janesville Police Department is attempting to identify the resident who included ammunition and the explosive device with their donation at Goodwill.

Residents are encouraged to call police at 608-757-2244 to have old military ordinances or any suspicious device disposed of responsibly.

About 15-20 Goodwill employees waited in the parking lot at the mall across the street until the scene was cleared at about 12:30 p.m.

Members of the Dane County Bomb Squad prepare to enter Goodwill to remove a possible explosive device found among donated items. JNR photo by Dan Plutchak
Members of the Dane County Bomb Squad prepare to enter Goodwill to remove a possible explosive device found among donated items. JNR photo by Dan Plutchak

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Employees of Goodwill wait across the street in the mall parking lot for the all clear.

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Janesville firefighters standby as the Dane County bomb squad investigates the device.