Generated

TSA Officer Justin Dupree Discovers Stolen Historic Cannonballs During Routine Baggage Screening in Alabama

TSA Officer Justin Dupree discovered five historic cannonballs during a routine baggage screening at Gulf Shores International Airport on July 18. The artifacts, which were wrapped in paper towels, were found inside a passenger's checked bag and initially triggered a security alarm. Dupree reported that he first suspected the objects might be live explosives because he could not see a clear fuse, leading him to alert his supervisor, Richard Cash. Local law enforcement and TSA explosives specialists confirmed that the cannonballs were inert and did not contain any explosive material. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office determined that the items had been stolen from the nearby historic Fort Morgan, a Civil War-era landmark. A juvenile was identified as the thief who took the artifacts from a storage area at the fort. The cannonballs have been returned to Fort Morgan, and the fort's director declined to pursue legal charges against the juvenile. TSA Alabama Federal Security Director Tara Corse noted that travelers should avoid bringing weapons or replicas to the airport to prevent potential security alerts and flight delays.

Sources