The Torrance Courthouse was evacuated Wednesday in response to a suspicious package found at the building, but no injuries were reported.
Personnel at the courthouse were alerted around 7 a.m. and the suspicious package was located about 30 feet from the main entrance of the building on Maple Avenue just north of Torrance Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The building is in the Torrance Civic Center area, which includes City Hall and the Torrance Police Department headquarters.
Torrance police and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies initially responded to investigate the suspicious device, and representatives from the FBI arrived later.
Video from the scene showed a bomb squad robot approaching and detonating what appeared to be an orange inflatable item near a bench outside the building’s front entrance. More than an hour after that action, the building remained closed. Reports from the scene indicated there was a note attached to the item.
Sheriff’s officials declared the area safe around 10:15 a.m., but the building remained closed.
“As a precautionary measure the Torrance Courthouse remained closed for the remainder of the day and will will reopen Thursday, November 14th,” according to the sheriff’s department. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson Explosives Detail is actively investigating the incident with the assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Anyone with information regarding the suspicious package was urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles Superior Court officials said all matters that were on calendar at the building Wednesday were being rescheduled, while time-sensitive matters were relocated to other court buildings.