Suspicious Letter Causes Scare At Santa Monica College

SANTA MONICA, CA — A suspicious letter sent to Santa Monica College prompted a sheriff's bomb squad call out Thursday.

No evacuations were ordered after the letter was received about 11 a.m. at the college in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard, but out of an abundance of caution, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Arson-Explosives Unit was summoned, according to Santa Monica College Police Chief Johnnie Adams.

Officers closed 16th Street between Pearl Street and Pico Boulevard until about 1:45 p.m., when the bomb squad determined that the letter, which had suspicious writing on the outside, was not a threat.

City News Service; Photo of Santa Monica College: (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)