An Army Ordnance disposal team destroyed a homemade explosive device Friday morning along a busy on-ramp to U.S. Highway 12 just north of Yakima.

The device was described as a plastic beverage bottle with shotgun-shell powder inside. The bottle was wrapped with electrical tape and a metal chain.

The mystery surrounding the origin of the device deepened later in the day when the Sheriff’s Office released the two people in whose possession the device was found.

A news release from the Sheriff’s Office said the pair, a man and woman, found the plastic bottle along the road just moments before they were detained.

Deputy Aaron Wuitschick said in the news release the couple didn’t know what it was they found along the road. He had stopped them for crossing the highway on foot and found the device inside a bag the woman was carrying.

Wuitschick stopped the pair about 10 a.m. near the on-ramp to U.S. Highway 12 from Interstate 82.

Her male companion, initially held on a suspected misdemeanor warrant, was released when the identity of the wanted person couldn’t be confirmed.

The question for investigators now is who concocted the bomb and how it was to be used.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Violent Crimes Task Force at 509-574-2564.

-- David Lester