‘Suspicious package’ report shuts down Greenback Lane for 2 hours

Citrus Heights police temporarily shut down Greenback Lane around 3 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a call about an “oddly” behaving man dropping off a “suspicious package” near San Juan High School and Metro Fire Station 21.

After an explosives team from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department detonated the item, it was concluded that the package was “not a destructive or explosive device,” according to a police news release sent out Wednesday evening.

Although occurring after school hours, police said a small number of students present at San Juan High School were “sheltered in place” during the incident, as well as several nearby businesses and Metro Fire station personnel. A fire academy class was also evacuated and Greenback Lane was closed from San Juan Avenue to Sunrise Boulevard for about two hours.

The incident began around 3:04 p.m. Wednesday, when police said a call was received from Metro Fire Station 21 about “a subject behaving oddly, [who] dropped off a suspicious package and ran away.” The man was reportedly holding the package with a single glove.

Police said the package dropped off was described as “an oxygen bottle and a backpack with what appeared to be wires and other packages.”

Officers were able to locate the man nearby and he was detained “for an unrelated crime.” Police said he was later released without charge.

Roadways were reopened around 5 p.m., after a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Explosive Ordinances Devices Team “rendered the package safe” by detonation. No injuries were reported.

Police said community members are encouraged to report incidents where “something isn’t right or out of place and you feel it may cause harm.”

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