A stretch of San Pedro Avenue on the Northwest side was the stage for an emergency response after a man issued a bomb threat during a traffic stop this Tuesday. According to KENS 5, the incident began when Alamo Colleges police officers stopped a man driving a truck erratically, and swerving along the 6700 block of San Pedro Avenue.
As the officer conducted the traffic stop, the male driver, who was found sitting in the middle seat of the truck, informed the officer there was a bomb in the vehicle. This prompted, the immediate call to the San Antonio Police Department's Bomb Squad, as noted in a statement obtained by KENS 5. Police shut down the road from Jackson Keller Road to the El Montan Motel, causing traffic delays and local concern.
Upon investigation, the bomb squad discovered a suspicious package in the vehicle which was described by SAPD Public Information Officer Nick Soliz as "a small luggage suitcase with wires." "Any reasonable person would’ve believed that was a bomb," KENS 5 quoted Soliz. Following a thorough check, the bomb squad determined that the suspicious package was not a bomb.
The individual was taken into custody for emergency detention, but at this time, no criminal charges have been announced. The police affirmed that there was no threat to the public and the area schools remained unthreatened by the incident. After the bomb squad cleared the vehicle, the section of San Pedro that was shut down, was eventually reopened.
Further developments revealed that the man was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, as reported by News 4 San Antonio. The actions taken by law enforcement and first responders underlined the gravity and caution practiced by local authorities when faced with potential threats to the community's safety.
