Suspected Pipe Bomb Closes Novato Police Station

NOVATO, CA -- A suspected homemade pipe bomb delivered to the Novato Police Station prompted road closures Saturday. Police said a resident saw the suspicious object near the roadside of Olive Avenue and Deer Island Road and brought it to the police station at 11 a.m.

The officers recognized the object, which was about 8” long and housed in plastic tubing with a silver metallic powder inside, as a homemade pipe bomb, police said.

Officers immediately closed the police department lobby and Machin Avenue to vehicular and pedestrian traffic to ensure the safety of the public.

Members of the UC Berkeley Police Bomb Team responded to the incident and determined the object safe without incident. The police department lobby and Machin Avenue were reopened shortly after.

Police said if you ever encounter suspicious objects or weapons out in the community, do not touch, handle, or move them. Move away to a position of safety and call 911.

If you have any information about the incident today, please contact the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361 or submit a tip on our website.

--Photo via Shutterstock