HEMET – Sheriff’s bomb squad called out to inspect and detonate suspicious package

HEMET — Sheriff’s bomb squad members assisting Hemet Police Department investigating a suspicious package later detonated the item, early Monday evening, Jan. 15. The investigation caused the temporary closure of Florida Avenue, between Hamilton and Palm Avenues, in Hemet.

Although details are still emerging, after members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team detonated the suspicious package they determined it had posed no danger.

City of Hemet Police and Fire personnel and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the 900 block of W. Florida Avenue, after someone called 911 to report finding the suspicious item, which officials have not yet described.

Officers who initially inspected the suspicious package determined the object was suspicious enough to warrant further investigation and officials called for assistance from the Sheriff’s bomb squad.

While bomb squad members were responding to the scene with robots and other equipment, Hemet police officers called for the closure of two blocks of Florida Avenue and volunteer officers were summoned to the scene to assist with the road closure and diverting traffic and bystanders away from the area.

Officials also closed Western Avenue between Florida Avenue and Latham Street, where firefighters, paramedics and other medical personnel stood by, waiting for the all-clear signal.

Several hours after the incident began, shortly before 5:30 p.m., sheriff’s officials notified all assisting agencies they were about to detonate the package. Minutes later, with medical personnel standing by at the ready, bomb squad members detonated the suspicious object.

Witnesses in the area reported hearing a boom and seeing a bright flash.

After a bomb squad member, who was decked out in full protective gear, inspected the object, he determined it had been rendered safe. The item was then collected for further investigation.

At 6 p.m., officials at the scene advised the roadblocks could be taken down and the roadway was soon re-opened to through traffic.

Hemet PD officers are investigating the incident and their investigation is active and ongoing.

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.