UPDATE: The shelter-in-place has been cleared. The possible explosives have been deemed safe.
HERCULES (KRON/BCN) — A bomb squad is investigating a potential explosive device brought to the Hercules Police Department by a citizen this afternoon, a police spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, children have been evacuated from a building near the combined police department and city hall at 111 Civic Drive, Hercules police spokeswoman Connie Van Putten said.
A citizen initially came to the Hercules Police Department at 2:58 p.m. with what he believed was a fake bomb to have it disposed of, Van Putten said.
Upon inspection, it was determined that it was possibly a real explosive device and Walnut Creek Police Department’s bomb squad was called to the scene for further examination.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the building was evacuated and people in the Hercules Senior Center, Samara Terrace Senior Apartments and Hercules Library – all buildings in close proximity – were ordered to shelter in place.
Van Putten said children inside the nearby library have been evacuated as well. Families of these children have been taking them away from the area.
As of 4:15 p.m., the bomb squad had arrived at the scene. The evacuation and shelter in place orders were still active around 5 p.m.
No further information was immediately available.