Suspicious Device Is Not A Threat, Santa Cruz Police Say

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz police said a suspicious pipe found near Cowell Beach Wednesday was not a threat following an investigation that shut down local streets and prompted a shelter-in-place order for those nearby.

A pedestrian walking in the 100 block of Bay Street reported an 18-inch pipe with duct tape on both ends and wires hanging out of it, police said. The device was found outside of the Sea and Sand Motel and the building was evacuated, KSBW reported.

The call came in shortly before noon and officers with the Santa Cruz Police Department and Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office responded. Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills announced around 12:20 p.m. that officers were investigating a possible explosive device found in the area of Bay Street and West Cliff Drive, and advised those nearby to shelter-in-place.

A sheriff's bomb squad brought a bomb retrieval robot and officials said there was no threat around 2 p.m., the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Police do not believe the device was meant to cause alarm.

Possible explosive device at Bay and West Cliff. 200 bulk plz shelter in place.
— Andrew Mills (@ChiefAndyMills) June 10, 2020