A Washington, D.C., road was shut down for nearly two hours on Aug. 12, 2026, after an unidentified man left a “suspicious package” outside of DC Fire and EMS Engine 20. According to WUSA9, that prompted the Tenleytown fire station to become ground zero for a bomb scare that had part of Wisconsin Avenue NW shut down for around two hours during rush hour.
The shutdown occurred after a blue-and-black object with protruding wires appeared to have been discarded in a trash can. Andrew Leyden, who goes by @penginsix on X, was even able to snap some images of the scary incident, and he posted them online after the investigation had wrapped up.
So, what was the cause of all the chaos? Believe it or not, it was a pricey adult toy that someone had discarded on the sidewalk. Yes, you read that right.
Now, the internet is buzzing with jokes about the device and its appearance near the firehouse.
The MPD Bomb Squad has cleared a suspicious package at the firehouse of DCFD Engine 20. A thermos bottle with some wires was discovered this morning but ruled non-hazardous. pic.twitter.com/5E4LuVDeFK
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) August 12, 2026
The Adult Toy Prompted a Massive Response From D.C. Law Enforcement
Police arrived shortly after 7 a.m. on Wednesday. An initial inspection prompted them to call in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, along with its K-9 Unit, which ultimately determined that the device was a black and blue sex pump, according to WTOP News.
While the investigation was relatively short, all things considered, it still snarled traffic in the busy area for at least two hours.
Social Media Users Were Able to Identify the Adult Toy
Leyden, who is a freelance photographer in the area, shared a series of photos from the investigation. “The MPD Bomb Squad has cleared a suspicious package at the firehouse of DCFD Engine 20,” he captioned the pictures. “A thermos bottle with some wires was discovered this morning but ruled non-hazardous.”
However, the people in the comments were quick to correct Leyden’s original description of the object, identifying the “thermos” in question by sharing a screenshot of the product. “Um, fellas, that’s not a thermos,” one commenter wrote with a picture of the Zolo BlowBot.
Another commenter posted that the toy is being sold online for around $332.99. Meanwhile, other reports are saying the toy can go for as much as $600.
This Incident May Have Been Funny, but the Threats Are Real
While people on social media joked about the adult toy, it’s worth noting that the Washington, D.C. area has been under increased threats of late, according to The Independent. On July 22, 2026, the Director of the Secret Service told reporters that there had been around 10,000 threats made against government officials in 2026, which was a 40 percent increase from the same time the previous year.
And while this incident was just a false alarm, law enforcement cannot afford to let its guard down when additional calls come in, especially in the D.C. area. That being said, there’s no harm in hoping that they all turn out to be as harmless as the abandoned adult toy with a questionable past.