BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Bellingham Police Department responded to a call about an explosive device with a patient at St. Jospeh Medical Center.

Bellingham Police said in a social media post that they responded to a report of a patient with a small, improvised explosive device at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center on Wednesday, May 8.

Hospital staff had removed the device from the building by the time officers arrived. Bellingham Police closed off the area until their Hazardous Device Unit could respond and secure the explosive.

The patient claimed the device was used to scare coyotes off their property and that they grabbed a jacket with the explosive in its pocket in their rush to get to the hospital.

Bellingham Police says charges for reckless endangerment have been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review.