The Emeryville Police Department received a report of a suspicious item in a garage level storage room at the Artistry Apartments this afternoon. A maintenance worker at the complex discovered the device that was described as “cylindrical and approximately 10 inches long”.
Responding Officers were not able to rule out the item as being an explosive device and summoned assistance from BART Police, Explosive Detection Canine teams and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squad (EOD).
Roadways at the Shellmound intersection at 64th including the nearby railroad crossing were cordoned off while the incident was attended to by the tactical unit. Rush hour commuters via car, AC Transit and Amtrak came to a halt while news copters hovered overhead.
DUE TO POLICE ACTIVITY ALL TRAINS HELD BETWEEN EMERYVILLE AND BERKELEY, BART OFFERING MUTUAL AID BETWEEN OAKLAND AND RICHMOND.
— Capitol Corridor (@CapitolCorridor) August 14, 2018
A bomb squad technician outfitted in a disposal suit and helmet could be seen making his way into the complex. Witnessed then described “a loud explosion” that was later determined to be a controlled explosive device intentionally detonated to render the suspicious item safe.
In this garage on Shellmound is an apartment complex where a suspicious device has been rendered safe and is being inspected by Emeryville PD after a maintenence worked found what appeared to be a pipe like item in a storage room pic.twitter.com/wDK6Ml3pMD
— Randee Deason (@2hip4tv) August 15, 2018
The entire Artistry complex was searched and no other suspicious items were discovered. Streets were reopened to traffic at about 6:22 p.m.
EPD detectives took over the investigation collecting evidence and gathering witness statements. They are seeking the public’s assistance and are asking anyone with information about the circumstances to contact their Criminal Investigations Section at (510) 596-3700.
Feature Image: @EmeryvillePoliceDepartment via Instagram.
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