[symple_googlemap title=”Suspicious device in Santa Monica” location=” 7700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, ” height=”300″ zoom=”16″]
A suspicious device that resembled dynamite was found inside the car of a man who was stopped and arrested for an alleged narcotics violation early Friday morning, and the device was removed by a sheriff’s bomb squad, authorities said.
The incident began about 3 a.m. with a traffic stop in the 7700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, said LA Sheriff’s Sgt. Enrique Mandujan of the West Hollywood station.
“Deputies saw the device when they made the traffic stop and arrest for a narcotics violation, then notified the bomb squad,” Mandujan said.
Traffic was diverted off Santa Monica Boulevard and onto Fountain Avenue during the investigation, according to the sheriff’s department.
The package was removed by the bomb squad and the area was cleared a short time ago, Mandujan said about 6 a.m.
No injuries occurred and traffic was flowing on Santa Monica Boulevard again, he added.
Authorities did not immediately release details on the suspicious device.
—City News Service