A suspicious package was found next to the City of Phoenix Public Transit Department building Monday night and caused Central Station and its surrounding area to be temporarily closed, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Police received a 911 call around 8:30 p.m. reporting the package in an alley 20 yards north of Van Buren Street between the Transit Department building and a parking structure located between First and Second avenues, Sgt. Trent Crump said.
Phoenix Police’s bomb squad was called to the scene after police realized the package was “making a buzzing noise and (had) wires coming out of it with a digital display,” Officer Rob Turpin said.
The bomb squad used a robot to detonate a charge to open up the package around 10:15 p.m., which revealed several components inside, Turpin said.
The simulated bomb device was in a container that was larger than a shoebox.
“Our bomb tech has completed our analysis and rendered it safe,” Crump said.
Central Station was blocked off and the light rail’s eastbound track was completely closed while trains traveled in both directions on the westbound track.
Sections of roads were closed between Washington and Roosevelt streets from Third Avenue to First Street, Crump said.
Crump said it is too early to determine the motive, but the package’s placement next to Valley Metro headquarters could suggest a relationship between the bomb scare and Valley Metro’s recent labor dispute.
“There is an ongoing labor dispute within some different parts of the transit bureau,” Crump said. “It is speculation at this point.”
Phoenix Police are investigating the situation by reviewing video surveillance and running DNA tests, Crump said.
Contact the reporter at dustin.volz@asu.edu
Contact the photographer at ecarpenter@asu.edu
