Suspicious Item Causes Bomb Scare in Cabazon
Overview
- Type: bomb scare, Cabazon, Riverside, robbery
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
CABZON – An unattended brief case left in a parking structure at Desert Hill Premium Outlets caused an evacuation as authorities investigated the suspicious item.
On December 6, 2015, at approximately 6:34 PM, the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station received a report that a suspicious item had been discovered at the parking structure of the Desert Hill Premium Outlets, located at 48660 Seminole Drive in Cabazon.
According to a press release from the Sheriff’s department, a security guard noted an abandoned suitcase near the structure’s elevator. When no one came to claim the suitcase after a half an hour, the guard became concerned and reported the incident.
The suspicious suitcase was positioned near business establishments. As a precautionary measure, deputies evacuated several of the outlet stores and areas of the parking structure. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hazardous Devices Team was informed and called to the scene. Cal Fire personnel were also contacted and requested to standby in the event they would be needed.
According to Sergeant Kirk Steines, “The Hazardous Devices Team arrived and evaluated the suitcase, which was determined not to be explosive or hazardous to public safety.” The scene was then cleared at approximately 10:30 PM and the area was reopened to the public.
This was one of two incidents that put authorities on alert in the Inland Empire Sunday evening. A burglary at a jewelry store in the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside was initially reported as a shooting and caused a massive response from police from several cities. No one was injured in either incident.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department asks that anyone finding any suspicious device or package leave the item untouched and in place, and immediately call 911. Should anyone have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100.
