Brass Location Device Found In Barnegat Bay Still Deemed Potentially Dangerous

A brass device found just south of Tices Shoal under three feet of mud was recently determined to be potentially dangerous by a detective from the the New Jersey State Police, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Forked River resident John D. Davis brought the device to police headquarters at 8:49 a.m. on Oct. 4, after he found it in the Barnegat Bay on Sept. 27, the chief said.

The brass device, which was tarnished from bay waters, was roughly 18 inches long and four inches in diameter. The device had writing stamped on the side which read, “For hand launching. To arm rotate cover to arm.” The item was temporarily secured in the rear of police headquarters and attempts were made to contact the Fort Dix Bomb Disposal Unit, but no response was received, Paprota said.

Lacey police notified the Coast Guard at Barnegat Light and Petty Officer Patrick Seebald identified the device as possibly being a MK72 location flare. The New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center, the New Jersey State Police Arson/Bomb Unit, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office were notified, the chief said.

Detective Brett Beyer of the New Jersey State Police Arson/Bomb Unit responded and took possession of the device. Beyer indicated that he believed that the device was an MK25, a location device that produces flames and smoke, via stored red phosphorous, when activated with seawater, Paprota said.

Beyer said that if some red phosphorous remained in the device, and was neutralized with a counter charge, the result could be very dangerous. The device is believed to be utilized by the United States Air Force, so Beyer notified the United States Air Force Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit informing them of the recovery of the device, the chief said.