Lakeport Chief of Police Brad Rasmussen has confirmed that law enforcement is at the town’s Grocery Outlet after a suspicious “explosive type device “ was found in the business’s parking lot.
He told us LPD officers were told that somebody found “what appears to be some sort of homemade, tube-type explosive with a fuse” in the parking lot and informed employees at the store.
Based on this information, Grocery Outlet initiated a self-evacuation and remains evacuated.
Chief Rasmussen told us one of his officers with knowledge of explosives is responding to the scene to determine whether the device presents an actual threat.
As of now, 6:44 p.m., Chief Rasmussen asks the public to stay away from the scene.
Scanner traffic beginning at 6:17 p.m. indicated that multiple agencies including Lakeport Police Department were converging on Grocery Outlet on 1155 South Main Street in Lakeport after reports of a bomb threat.
As of 6:38 p.m., some units are being released.
Lakeport Police Department and other first responders staged in the parking lot outside of the location.
UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: A Nixle alert from Lakeport Police states emergency personnel are moving what they are characterizing as a “possible homemade explosive device” to a remote area and clarified there is “no danger to the public in the area of Grocery Outlet.”
The following Nixle Alert was issued by the Lakeport Police Department:
Lakeport Police and Fire are on scene at the Grocery Outlet parking lot investigating what appears to be a possible homemade explosive device. We are working with allied agencies and are now safely moving the device to a remote area. There is no danger to the public in the area of Grocery Outlet. We do not believe that the device would unexpectedly detonate. Further info will be released when it is available.
UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: Chief Rasmussen told us the area around Grocery Outlet is now clear and the “possible homemade explosive device” is being disposed of.
Investigators believe there was “live powder” in the improvised device but Chief Rasmussen said that it would not have gone off by itself, but had to be lit.
Investigators will be investigating how that explosive came to be in the Grocery Outlet parking lot, Cheif Rasmussen said. He estimated it would be a while before information emerges.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
