Fake Pipe Bomb Prompts Piedmont Police Alert Thursday Morning
Streets Briefly Closed and Several homes Evacuated Thursday Morning
A fake pipe bomb in the backpack of Pablo Jesus Guardado, 36, Oakland, was “rendered safe” by the Alameda County Bomb Squad. Also found in the backpack was an unloaded gun and two switchblade knives according to Piedmont Capt. Chris Monahan.
“Police investigating a report of a suspicious person in the area of Wildwood and Winsor avenues about 8:30 a.m. detained Guardado in the 1100 block of Warfield Avenue. … Streets in the area were shut down and some homes evacuated while the bomb squad did its work.
< Owner of the backpack
Authorities said that “out of an abundance of caution,” Wildwood Elementary School, 301 Wildwood Ave., a few blocks away, was placed on a shelter-in-place status.” East Bay Times
Piedmont Police Press Release:
On September 27, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Piedmont Police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the area of Wildwood Avenue at Winsor Avenue in Piedmont. Officers located the individual, detained him and located an unloaded firearm, two switchblade knives and what appeared to be an explosive device. The individual was taken into custody without further incident.
Officers cordoned off the area and immediately began evacuating nearby residences. Wildwood Elementary School was directed to shelter-in-place.
The Piedmont Police Department requested the assistance of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad. Bomb Squad technicians responded to the scene, examined the device and were able to render it safe. Although the device was made to appear to look as an explosive device it was found to not contain any explosive material. Residents and Wildwood School staff were notified of the resolution of the event and that it was safe to return to their homes and routine school activity.
Participating Piedmonters were notified about the issue. To sign-up for future notifications follow the instructions below:
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Thank you Piedmont and Alameda County taxpayers for supplying our superbly trained police officers with the training and equipment they need to respond to a one~man terrorist wannabe with switchblade knives, a gun and replica bomb. I am running for City Council, and whether I am elected or not, wish to promote the idea that the time has come for cameras in our school entrances and exits, in the hallways and every classroom, facial recognition technology which can immediately alert the authorities when a known aggressor approaches and the arming of our teachers so they have the option of firing back.