A suspicious device that caused freeway closures, evacuations, road closures and trolley closures – turned out to be a fake, police said.
“A citizen saw a suspicious plastic box with a lock and a battery visibly attached on the bridge that goes over Friars Road,” Sgt. Ray Battrick said. “The citizen thought it might be a bomb and called police.”
A section of northbound Interstate-5 to Interstate-8 and the off ramp from westbound Interstate-8 to Interstate-5 were shut down briefly as the Metro Arson Strike Team detonated the device.
San Diego Trolley service was also suspended in the area and Friars Rd. between Napa St. and Seaworld Dr. and Pacific Hwy. between Taylor St. and Friars Rd. were shut down and some nearby buildings evacuated, officials said.
“The bomb squad suited up along with the robot and did an evaluation of this suspicious object,” San Diego Fire and Rescue spokesperson Maurice Luque said. “The object itself was a hard, plastic case, kind of like a large plastic brief case, black in color. It had a battery inserted on the front of it, as well as some wires protruding. It did have an ominous look to it.”
The whole ordeal lasted about three hours as officials took all the precautions they felt were necessary.
“There’s no rush necessary in these types of things and safety is the key thing – to the first responders, safety to the public in the area, safety to the rail traffic… as well as safety to motorists,” Luque said.
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The device turned out to be a hoax, according to police -- but the consequences are no laughing matter.
“It’s just as serious as if it was an actual device,” Luque said. “It’s a felony to mess around, creating, developing, placing objects around that appear to be bombs.”
So far, no arrests have been made.
