The Torrance Courthouse was evacuated and closed Wednesday after a suspicious package was found.
The Torrance Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the building on Maple Ave. around 9 a.m. FBI agents also responded.
Attorney David Balaski told KNX News’ Karen Adams he didn’t make it inside the courtroom but spoke with officers.
“From what I understand in talking to officers and other law enforcement agencies, there was a package that had a balloon on it, that also had a note to it that they found,” he said.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s bomb squad detonated the package before then bomb-sniffing dogs helped to search the building for any other suspicious packages.
Paul Malarkey, another attorney, told Adams he spoke with the judge about what happened.
“Apparently the device did go off and so they closed the courthouse and he said ‘Come back tomorrow,’” he said.
Will, who was reporting for jury duty, said he heard the device go off.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
“I heard a very large explosion that frightened some of the people who were in the lot itself,” he said. “I was a little bit removed from the lot at that point and I got out as people were pushed further back after the explosion. The police or the sheriff's moved everyone about 200 yards away to the back of this parking lot…”
He added that he asked the sheriff about the explosion.
“And he said, yes, it was a small bomb, probably not enough to do much damage,” he said.
The courthouse was closed for the day. It will reopen on Thursday.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
