Abundance of Caution

A bomb scare caused the shutdown of the Poway Skate Park and library on Saturday, May 2.

The county sheriff’s office forced dozens to evacuate the library and cordoned off the area just after 4 p.m. The sheriff’s bomb-arson unit was called in to investigate a bag filled with what was described as sticks of dynamite by a man who found it in a dumpster at a nearby apartment complex. The supposed threat turned out to be fireworks.

In a phone interview, Sgt. Greg Rylaarsdam said, “[Our response] was out of an abundance of caution. Obviously, with something like that, we don’t go digging through it.”

After finding the bag, the man brought it to the sheriff’s Poway station a little after 3 p.m. The station neighbors the skate park and library. Eight people from the sheriff’s office worked on the scene, including retired senior volunteers who helped maintain the blocked-off area, Rylaarsdam said.

The Poway Fire Department responded, standing by in case their assistance was needed. The ordeal lasted approximately one hour. Rylaarsdam said there would be no further investigation.

“Someone probably threw away some fireworks.”