Bomb squad called to Huntington Police Department

The bomb squad was called in to the Huntington Beach Police Department on Wednesday when explosive acid was found in its forensic crime lab.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad was called about 2 p.m. to the Police Department, 2000 Main St., as a precaution when a small amount of picric acid was found in an unstable condition, according to the department’s Facebook page.

Picric acid is a reagent used in forensic labs, but it can become unstable and explosive when it crystallizes, according to the report.

Officials noticed about 56 grams, a small amount, had started to dry and crystallize as the lab was being cleaned out.

The bomb squad removed the bottle of acid from the lab and placed it into a detonation trailer, said Lt. Russell Reinhart.

The substance was detonated with a small explosive charge and is now safe, he said.

The department wasn’t evacuated during the incident, but the forensic lab was closed for several hours, Reinhart said.

Portions of the forensic crime lab have been phased out over the years as a result of budget cuts, and the department now uses the Sheriff’s Department’s lab for many services, he said.

Britney Barnes