On Wednesday morning, August 12th, 2026, a stretch of Wisconsin Avenue in Washington DC was brought to a standstill after the Metropolitan Police Department’s bomb squad and K-9 unit responded to a suspicious device.

The incident began around 7am near the Tenleytown fire station when a witness reported seeing someone place a suspicious package inside a trash can. According to an incident report obtained by Fox 5, a person approached an employee outside the rear of DC Fire and EMS Engine 20 and left a “blue-and-black electronic device” with exposed wires.

Authorities shut down Wisconsin Avenue between 40th Street and Warren Street for nearly two hours, blocking several lanes on nearby streets and halting traffic in both directions during the busy rush hour.

After investigation, the device was determined to pose no danger and was identified as a sex toy. According to the Zolo company website, the toy features “adjustable suction levels” and a “drying function” for hygienic purposes.

This event echoes a previous incident in September 2022, when adult items and lubricant were scattered across an Oklahoma interstate after a semi-truck overturned, as noted by KWTV News 9 reporter Jim Gardner.

Sources