Crime & Safety
Bomb Squad Detonates Suspected Pipe Bomb Found in Abandoned Car on South St. Onramp in Cerritos
The discovery prompted the closure of both directions of the 605 Freeway for about an hour.
Both directions of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway were shut down early Tuesday after Cerritos sheriff's deputies discovered a suspected pipe bomb under the seat of an abandoned vehicle on a freeway onramp in Cerritos, authorities said.
The abandoned car found on the South Street onramp to the 605 Freeway was reported about 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to Lt. George Berumen of the Cerritos Sheriff's Station. When responding California Highway Patrol officers found a suspicious item inside the vehicle, they immediately contacted Cerritos authorities.
Arriving sheriff's deputies discovered what was "believed to be an explosive device underneath one of the seat's of the vehicle" and summoned a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's arsons explosives team, the lieutenant said.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Over the next hour, a portion of the 605 freeway was shut down in both directions while a bomb squad detonated what is believed to be a pipe bomb, Berumen said.
No evacuations were issued in the area, which includes Los Cerritos Center, the Cerritos Auto Square and several residential neighborhoods.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The name of the registered owner of the vehicle was not immediatley released and sheriff's detectives were continuing their investigation at the location.
The 605 freeway was reopened to traffic just before 1 a.m., according to the CHP.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.