Crime & Safety

Bomb Squad Evacuates Mar Vista Neighborhood

Authorities investigated a suspicious package found near a trashcan in Mar Vista.

MAR VISTA, CA — A suspicious package that appeared to be a pipe bomb, triggered the evacuation of a Mar Vista neighborhood Tuesday afternoon before an LAPD bomb squad determined it was just a bunch of batteries taped together,

A woman walking her dog found what appeared to be taped-up pipes with attached blue wiring late Tuesday morning near Culver Drive and Inglewood Boulevard and alerted police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

A Los Angeles police bomb squad was sent to a Mar Vista neighborhood Tuesday to examine a device reportedly resembling a pipe bomb, but which turned out to be some batteries taped together.

Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

An LAPD bomb squad has closed off the neighborhood and evacuated a nearby apartment complex as a precaution while explosives experts worked to determine if the item was hazardous.

The item was blasted with a water cannon and turned out to be some batteries taped together as a makeshift power pack, according to a report from the scene.

Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The suspicious item was found just before 11 a.m., and a large police presence was still at the scene after noon.

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