SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Officers responding to a suspected suicide at a northern Clairemont home on Friday spotted a suspicious-looking device inside, triggering a several-hour evacuation of surrounding houses until a bomb squad determined that the object was harmless.
Sheriff's court-services personnel discovered the body in the 5200 block of Palmyra Avenue while trying to serve an eviction notice about 10 a.m. The deceased person's identity was withheld pending family notification.
The deputies called in San Diego police, who soon concluded that the death was an apparent suicide, SDPD spokesman Mark Herring said.
Officers then called in ordnance-handling personnel due to the presence in the house of a possibly explosive device, cleared people out of nearby residences and blocked off the street.
After carefully examining the object, the bomb squad used a controlled detonation to destroy the device, which turned out to have been inert, city Fire Capt. Joe Amador said. A description of it was not immediately available.
Authorities gave an all-clear shortly before 2:30 p.m. and advised the displaced residents that it was safe to return to their homes.
SUICIDE PREVENTION (24-HOUR HOTLINES)
San Diego County Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
