Police in Castle Rock have evacuated roughly 30 homes after discovering a “small collection of chemicals” Monday morning in the city’s Plum Creek neighborhood.
Investigators, including bomb squad personnel, detonated two devices found during the chemical investigation about 8 p.m. in a sand trap at Plum Creek Golf Course.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ division in Denver responded, as did the FBI.
Investigators say the evacuations were needed because of volatile chemicals found inside a house, but officials did not elaborate.
“I can’t release any of that at this time,” said Karen Carter, a spokeswoman for the city. “What we are doing at this time is practicing safety. We are getting the right people in here to look at what we have.”
The golf course also was closed.
The chemicals were found by officers who went to the home on the 400 block of Prestwick Way at about 8 a.m. Monday to inform the parents of one of two juveniles who were taken into custody early Monday of the arrests.
Police spotted the chemicals — which authorities say were in plain view — prompting a large law enforcement response that included firefighters and the Douglas County bomb squad, officials say.
“As the initial bomb squad technicians went through the house, they found a number of items, a number of other chemicals that looked suspicious,” Sgt. Tim Ratcliff, who oversees investigations for the Castle Rock Police Department, told reporters.
Ratcliff said some of the chemicals in the home are volatile. He added that the “homeowners may or may not be aware of” the chemicals in the house.
Authorities said the evacuations were made out of an abundance of caution and that their investigation could last up to 12 hours. Specialty equipment was needed to investigate the chemicals, police say.
“We could go inside and find the chemicals are benign and there is no threat,” Ratcliff said.
Castle Rock Police investigate collection of chemicals at house.
— Town of Castle Rock (@crgov)
The juveniles were arrested about 2:30 a.m. Monday after police say neighbors reported their alleged, unspecified suspicious behavior. Both children remain in custody on charges unrelated to the chemical investigation.
Their names were not released.
Police say they believe their investigation is part of an isolated incident and that there is no danger to the public.
The investigation is ongoing, and the familes are cooperating with law enforcement.
