Suspicious Package Prompts Street Closures In SF Financial District
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - A shelter-in-place order was issued after a suspicious package was found in San Francisco's Financial District late Tuesday morning, a police officer said.
The all-clear was given shortly after 3:30 p.m. after it was determined that the package, a suitcase which was found up in tree, was harmless.
Officers responded to Market and the west side of Steuart Street after a call about a suspicious package in a tree across from the Hyatt Embarcadero Hotel at 11:23 a.m., Officer Albie Esparza said.
Esparza said the device was tied up, suspended 20 feet above the ground.
The bomb squad was called in to investigate, but their robotic device was initially unable to reach the package.
Crews eventually were able to get the suitcase down from the tree just before 3 p.m.
Steuart Street between Mission and Market streets as the bomb squad worked to retrieve the package, Esparza said.
Those nearby were notified to stay indoors, while some evacuations took place at ground-level restaurants, Esparza said.
Police urged people to avoid the area, which was shut down to pedestrians and traffic.
San Francisco Municipal Railway service in the area was disrupted because of the police activity, Muni spokesman Paul Rose said.
The inbound F-Market/Wharves streetcar line is switching back at Market and 11th streets, while the 6-Parnassus, 14-Mission, 21-Hayes, and 31-Balboa bus lines were being rerouted, Rose said.
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