Maine Bomb Squad Empties Walmart After Elderly Man Drops Off Pressure Cooker — for Recycling

The bomb squad in Maine was called into a Walmart after an elderly man trying to recycle an old pressure cooker placed it in recycle bins for the store, according to authorities.

An older gentleman went to the Walmart in Thomaston with a garbage bag containing an old pressure cooker, which he wanted to add to the recycling bin, Penobscot Bay Pilot reported.

He left the pressure cooker in the wastebasket and then a trash picker came along searching for receipts they could use for rebates.

The pressure cooker was in the way, so they pulled it out and when done digging through the trash, placed it on top of the wastebasket and left, according to the Pilot.

An associate at the store spotted the device, which has been known to be turned into an explosive device. An evacuation order was put in place for the store and a bomb squad was called in.

The Maine State Police Tactical Team investigated the pressure cooker and determined it was empty, so the evacuation order was lifted and employees were allowed back into the building the next morning.

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Police identified the 80-year-old man who deposited the pressure cooker and informed him about proper disposal methods, officials said.

Thomaston Police Chief Tim Hoppe said absolutely nothing malicious occurred and no charges were filed.