Riverside Police Department Press Release

Officers Search Suspicious Storage Unit

Riverside, Ca-  On Thursday, December 19, 2002 at approximately 0400 hours, officers from the Riverside Police Department assisted Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department in arresting a “Robbery Suspect” in the City of Riverside. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. After the arrest was made, officers obtained information that a storage unit, at a storage facility in the 9600 block of Arlington Ave. possibly contained some explosive materials. Officers from the Riverside Police Department conducted a follow-up investigation at the storage facility later during the day and contacted the Technical Services Unit to respond. After further investigation, a perimeter was established and an evacuation of a one block square area was conducted. The evacuated area consisted of both businesses and residences. Traffic on Arlington Ave. was also blocked off during the investigation. Later in the evening, the Technical Services Unit reported that the Storage Unit had been rendered safe.

During this operation, members of the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara Police Department, Red Cross, City of Riverside Park and Rec. and staff from Norte Vista High School assisted the Riverside Police Department throughout the investigation.