Item found in house not explosive device, Dayton Bomb Squad lieutenant says

A contractor doing tear out work in the house at Valley Street and Bickmore Avenue for a new occupant noticed a piece of metal pipe capped at both ends, Lt. Hall said.

The contractor thought it might be a pipe bomb and called police shortly before 3 p.m.

The bomb squad was sent, performed diagnostic tests on the pipe and determined it was empty and not a threat, Hall said.

The contractor made the right call because the pipe looked suspicious to him, he said.

The 1300 block of Valley Street, which had been shut down for the investigation, has reopened.