Device was intended to resemble a bomb, Everett police say

Published 2:28 pm Thursday, March 10, 2016

EVERETT — It was a fake.

A bomb squad is investigating an object designed and staged to look like an improvised explosive device that was left at an Everett bus stop Wednesday.

The suspicious device was discovered in the 3900 block of Rucker Avenue around 3 p.m. Wednesday by an Everett Clinic employee, who called 911 to report a suspicious item.

Bomb technicians used a robot to inspect the cylinder-shaped object housed in plastic with wires sticking out, city officials said.

After the robot removed the object, technicians inspected and determined it was fake.

“Someone put effort into making the object look like a real explosive device,” said Mike Atwood, a bomb technician with the Everett Police Department. “The initial report by the Everett Clinic and response by officers allowed us to keep the public safe.”

The incident closed a portion of Rucker Avenue, between the 3700 and 4100 blocks, for three hours.

Officers assisted the Everett Clinic with getting people out of the building.

A Washington State Patrol bomb dog was used to search the area around the bus stop. No injuries were reported.