Device attached to car parked near Inglewood elementary school was not a bomb, police say

A device hanging from a car parked in front of an elementary school in Inglewood was likely constructed to look like a bomb, but it was not an explosive device, investigators said Monday.

After officials detonated the object, hanging underneath a 2004 Nissan Sentra, they determined it was batteries wrapped in tape and attached to hoses, said Inglewood police Lt. Neal Cochran.

The investigation into the incident, which prompted evacuations, began about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when a woman flagged down officers after she noticed a package and what appeared to be several wires danging underneath the trunk of a car parked in the 700 block of West Beach Avenue near Highland Elementary School.

A bomb dog sent to the scene signaled to authorities that it was an explosive device, Cochran said.

From 75 to 100 residents in the two blocks surrounding the school were evacuated for hours overnight while the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad detonated the object, Cochran said.

“We’re happy we were able to clear the neighborhood and get these people back into their homes,” Cochran said. “They missed a whole night of sleep because of this.”

Authorities have not made any arrests in connection with the incident. Cochran said police were trying to track down the owner of the car.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @Hannahnfry

UPDATES:

7:20 a.m.: This article was updated with information about the nature of the device.

This article was originally published at 5:55 a.m.