Monterey Police and Fire departments evacuated after bomb scare
MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) UPDATED 2/17/20 5:42 p.m. The Monterey Police Department is sending out a message of caution to the public after a bomb scare over the weekend. A person brought an old explosive device into the police department, prompting an evacuation.
These devices are sensitive. Monterey PD told KION that people should not bring any kind of explosives into the police department, even those turning them in to be destroyed. It’s hard to tell just from looking at a bomb if it’s active or not.
“We have to be concerned for public safety so we take all precautions by evacuating all of the surrounding areas so we can make sure there’s no harm to the public,” Patrol Sgt. Mickey Roobash with the Monterey PD said.
The person brought munition from what appeared to be a cluster bomb to the front counter of the police station, a potentially dangerous situation if the device was active.
We’re told the Monterey County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad x-rayed the device and found it to be missing its detonation charge. Then they destroyed it.
This isn’t the first time a situation of this kind has happened at the station.
“We’ve had other occasions where people brought devices that were suspected to be explosives to the front counter for destruction and again, we are highly discouraging the move,” Roobash said.
Residents say they aren’t surprised these old devices are found, especially with military bases on the central coast.
“I’m sure there’s probably quite a few of them because of the former Fort Ord,” Monterey resident Charla Claessen said. "I go bicycling there and, you know, you’re going through territory that probably has the same bombs out there. You just don’t know."
There are some restricted areas with signs like this one warning people that the area may contain dangerous military explosives, likely left over from soldier training.
Periodically, these items are removed and detonated as shown in videos from the Fort Old Cleanup’s website.
Police said if you find one, you should not touch it, evacuate the area and call 911.
UPDATED 2/17/20 2:24 p.m. The Monterey Police Department is reminding the public not to touch or carry explosive devices, no matter how old they seem.
This comes after a person brought in munition from what appeared to be a cluster bomb into the police station over the weekend, prompting the building to be evacuated.
This is not the first time an incident of this kind has happened.
KION's Elisha Machado will have a live report with more on the dangers of these devices and how the public should respond if they find a bomb.
PREVIOUS STORY 2/16/20 7:45 p.m.:
The Monterey Police Department and Monterey Fire Department Station were evacuated after a person brought what appeared to be a cluster bomb to the front counter of the police station.
Police said the resident was turning in the device so it could be destroyed.
Monterey PD Watch Commander Jason Newbie said if you find a device, please do not remove it and leave it where it is, evacuate the area and call 911.
PREVIOUS STORY 2/16/20 5:51 p.m.:
The Monterey Police Department and Monterey Fire Department Station were evacuated after a bomb scare
Monterey PD Sergeant Roobash told KION the incident started around 1:30 p.m. Sunday when a person brought what appeared to be a cluster bomb to the front counter of the police station.
Roobash said police contacted the Monterey County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad. They came around 3:30 p.m., took an x-ray of the device and found it to be missing its detonation charge.
The bomb squad destroyed the device.
