Dummy military device found in Philo

A missile-shaped military training device was uncovered Friday in a pile of scrap metal in a field near Philo, west of Boonville, on Friday according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

The dummy device was between 14 and 16 inches long and had tail fins, according to Anderson Valley Fire Chief Andres Avila.

It was found by the property owner in the remains of what had been a pile of scrap metal, he said.

A metal scavenger had recently removed most of the scrap metal, but left the device behind without mentioning it to the property owner, Avila said.

The owner discovered the device when he went out to mow the field, he said.

Anderson Valley officials contacted the Sonoma County bomb team, which detonated what turned out to be a dummy training mortar, Avila said.

It’s unknown how the device, which was capable of being launched but did not contain any explosives, got to the location.

“We don’t have a clue,” Avila said.