Belleville police remove weapons from home, including a ‘foreign military device’
No one is in custody and no charges have been filed after Belleville police seized several weapons from a house Tuesday, authorities said.
Belleville Police Department Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan said officers were dispatched to the 7800 block of West Main Street to conduct a wellness check related to a “mental health crisis.” They arrived to find two subjects, instead of just the one initially reported.
Officers left the residence with multiple weapons, including what was described as a “foreign military device,” Heffernan said. He emphasized that there was no danger to the public.
“Both subjects were cooperative and assisted the officers during the investigation, which led to firearms and ammunition being released to law enforcement for safekeeping,” Heffernan said in a statement.
Police then requested assistance from the Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Device Unit, which in turn contacted the 375th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit from Scott Air Force Base to investigate the military device.
The device was found to be inert and was surrendered to police, Heffernan said.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM.
