HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – After finding an explosive device near Woodward Avenue and Midland Street, Highland Park police broke protocol Thursday and transported the device in a police cruiser with no safety precautions.

At about 6 p.m., police responded to a call and found a mortar round in a back alley.

After discussing the situation with a supervisor, the supervisor broke protocol and ordered another officer to pick up the explosive device and transfer it in a police cruiser to the police station down Woodward Avenue -- potentially turning the car into a rolling bomb.

City officials initially downplayed the way the mortar was moved.

"If someone is going to pick up something that appears to be a bomb and put it into a vehicle and drive it back to the station, it pretty much was a safe thing," said Highland Park liaison Marli Blackman.

Multiple Highland Park officers said this wasn't safe and that it endangered the lives of those driving on Woodward, police and inmates at the station, as well as shoppers in the area.

City officials have since clarified that moving the mortar was a dangerous call.

"No, that won't happen again." Blackman said. "Thank God nothing happened when the officer brought it to the station."

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