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Centennial Park in Santa Maria reopens after ‘suspicious device’ turns out to be water sprinkler part

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A "suspicious device" closed Rotary Centennial Park in Santa Maria Tuesday night, but a robot bomb unit determined it was part of a water sprinkler.

At around 5:45 p.m., police responded for a report of a small "cylinder device" resembling a pipe bomb.

“It appeared suspicious because it was a cylinder in shape, 8 inches long," said Santa Maria Police Sergeant Jesus Valle. "It appeared to have an end cap to it.”

Both Santa Maria police and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Bomb Squad were on scene.

“It was a commercial grade type of sprinkler,” Sgt. Valle said.

The news brought relief to neighbors in the area. “Glad it didn’t actually happen,” said Santa Maria resident Chole Stanley. 

Police had the area surrounding the park closed down during the investigation. That closure remained in place for several hours, police said.

Article Topic Follows: Safety

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