Device found near tracks
Later deemed safe, deputies say
BALLSTON, N.Y. » The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said deputies investigated a suspicious device Wednesday that was found near railroad tracks in Ballston.
Authorities said the Canadian Pacific Railroad Police reported their track maintenance personnel found the suspicious device possibly a pipe bomb - Wednesday morning in the area of the railroad tracks at Zepko Lane, near the Zim Smith trail. The object was a three-foot piece of PVC with wires protruding from one end, authorities said.
The Zim Smith Trail was closed from East High Street in the Village of Ballston Spa to Zepko Lane, in the Town of Ballston, while law enforcement, which included the Sheriff’s personnel, New York State Police, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Watervliet Arsenal, deemed the object safe, and it was secured by the ATF and FBI. The object was sent for further analysis to the FBI Lab in Quantico, Va.
All rail traffic was halted in both directions. This included freight and Amtrak service. The Sheriff’s Office said the area is currently cleared.
The Ballston Spa Fire Department, Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services and Community Ambulance
Corp., and the New York State Division of Homeland Security were placed on standby at the scene, while the
Village of Ballston Spa Police Department assisted with the closing of the Zim Smith trail.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office ATV Division searched the immediate area including a portion of the Zim Smith Trail as precautionary measure, while Canadian Pacific Police with the assistance of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s K9 Division searched a large section of rail.
The Zim Smith Trail was closed from East High Street in the Village of Ballston Spa to Zepko Lane, in the Town of
Ballston. The investigation is on going with the assistance of the Canadian Pacific Police, FBI, ATF, and New York State Police.
“The safety and security of our residents is my primary concern,” said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. “This incident will be investigated thoroughly by my office with the help of our federal partners. Anyone seeing any suspicious activity in the area Zepko Lane, should contact the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office at (518) 885-6761.”