Suspicious Device Found At North County Home Prompts Evacuations

SAN MARCOS, CA — A suspicious device found at a San Marcos home prompted a temporary evacuation near the San Marcos Sheriff's Station on Tuesday before authorities determined the item was harmless.

A woman found the device at her home shortly after 9:30 a.m. and placed it in her car before driving toward the sheriff's station, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. She called ahead to report the discovery and parked in the 100 block of Santar Place near the station.

Deputies contacted the woman and photographed the device. The immediate area was evacuated as a precaution while the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit responded.

Bomb squad deputies removed the device from the vehicle and examined it, determining it posed no danger to the public, officials said. The evacuation was lifted a short time later.

No injuries were reported.

The sheriff's office reminded residents who encounter a potentially explosive device not to touch, move or tamper with it. People should move away from the area, keep others at a safe distance and call 911 from a safe location.