It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … tree tub grinder tooth? Police investigate metal from the sky
Fri, 06/28/2013
Seattle police are investigating the source of a heavy piece of metal that crashed through the roof and ceiling of a South Park family’s home on June 23.
The family called 911 a few days after the incident. The mysterious hunk of metal didn’t injure anyone, but certainly could have as it tore through shingles, wood, drywall and insulation into their home. Police said it weighs three pounds and measures eight by six inches in dimension.
Responding officers first thought it may have fallen from a plane coming in for a SeaTac landing, as the home at the corner of 7th Ave .S. and S. Director St. is under flight paths, so they contacted the FAA.
Later, police said the strange item appears to be a tooth from a tree tub grinder, which is essentially an industrial grade wood chipper that turns large limbs and branches into pureed mulch.
No word yet on the mysterious metal’s origin, but one SPD officer commented it “may have fallen from an aircraft or a really big bird that had stolen a lead bar.”