THOMASTON — Walmart video proved successful at determining the circumstances of how a pressure cooker came to be sitting on a wastebasket at the entrance to the store, May 7. In the end, absolutely nothing malicious occurred, according to Thomaston Police Chief Tim Hoppe.

The story begins with an older gentleman who went to the store with a garbage bag. In the bag was the kitchen appliance that the man wished to add to the waste collection as metal recycling. He disposed of the cooker into the wastebasket and left.

Along came a trash picker – people who hunt for discarded receipts looking for the rebates that are sometimes printed on the bottoms of those receipts. Finding the pressure cooker in the way of the scavenger hunt, the trash picker pulled the appliance out, and when finished his mission, placed the cooker on top of the wastebasket and left.

At some point later, store associates became aware of the device, which has been known as a weapon when used in a malicious manner. They then commenced an evacuation order and began a series of steps that finally ended at the hands of a bomb squad.

In ensuing investigation, and upon identifying the older gentleman, police educated him that Walmart did not provide disposal or recycling for metal or small appliances.

Thomaston Walmart reopens after suspicious item causes evacuation, tactical response

THOMASTON — Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a suspicious item found on the Walmart property and leading to the evacuation of the store Sunday evening May 7.

A 6:33 p.m. caller to Knox Regional Communications Center reported the discovery of a pressure cooker on a wastebasket at the grocery-side entrance to the store. Thomaston police were asked to come and check the item. The two Rockland police officers on duty for their city also responded, and as a precaution, the Thomaston Fire Department was requested to stage in the area, and at times, to provided traffic control.

Within an hour, the Rockland units were relieved by Knox County Sheriff’s deputies, who blocked the entrances to 55 Thomaston Commons Way and Buttermilk Lane. At approximately 7:40 p.m., the Thomaston Ambulance was also requested to stage in the area as a precaution.

The Maine State Police Tactical Team responded to Thomaston’s request for a bomb unit and treated the pressure cooker like a live explosive as they investigated the device, according to Thomaston Police. The tactical team’s investigation determined that the cooker was empty.

Walmart overnight employees were allowed back into the building, and store operations continued as usual the next morning.

Thomaston police will be reviewing the store’s camera footage.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com