A report of a suspicious package closed a section of downtown Santa Monica adjacent to the Expo station at 4th and Colorado this morning.
According to the Sheriff's Department, Metro employees saw a suspicious device at about 7:09 a.m. and reported it to Deputies who were on patrol. Officers from the Santa Monica Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call during the early hours of the morning rush hour.
Investigators were concerned about a package located near the ticket machines. Sheriff K-9 unit investigated the scene and officers decided to call in the Sheriff Department’s Bomb Squad. The explosives unit swept the station, train and nearby area. The station and nearby roads were reopened at about 10 a.m.
Streets were closed including 4th from Broadway to Olympic, 5th from Olympic to Colorado and Colorado from 5th to 2nd. Freeway traffic coming into Santa Monica was diverted towards Pico causing significant backups in the area but traffic improved once 4th Street reopened.
Security for the Expo station is handled by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Santa Monica Police Officers provide support and handle road closures for the area.
