Police chief warns of bottle bomb danger

rk. — The police chief in Helena-West helena is sending a warning, urging people to be cautious of "bottle bombs" that can cause serious injury.

Chief Vincent Bell says officers will post flyers around the city, alerting the public to the dangers of the bottle bombs.

Bell says he's taking this proactive stance after getting a text message Wednesday from a community member informing him of the probability of these devices being placed in people's yards.

Bottle bombs have been around for years, although Bell said it was the first time he'd heard of them.

In 2012 WREG reported on four bottle bombs that exploded in a Germantown neighborhood over Easter weekend, sending neighbors into shock.

Chief Bell says his department hasn't received any reports of what are called Drano bottle bombs, but since they can be mixed in an ordinary plastic water bottle, he's urging residents to watch for any strange containers in their yards or even mailboxes.

"If you see something that don't look normal, the best thing for you to do is call the police department," Bell said.