Bomb Scare Shut Down Banning Streets, No Arrest Made

A woman claimed a parcel she accidentally left on a charter bus would explode, prompting Banning police to evacuate it and call in the bomb squad, police said today.

The woman, whose name was not released, was not arrested and is cooperating as police continue the investigation, officers said.

The woman riding a charter bus and got off at her stop in Indio Saturday night. As the bus rolled west on Interstate 10, the passenger called the bus company to say she had accidentally left a package on the bus filled with liquids that could potentially explode.

Banning police spotted the bus, ordered passengers off, and closed streets down on Ramsey Street between 4th and 8th streets. Several local businesses in the area were also evacuated.

A bomb squad was sent to the scene but no package was found. Streets were reopened at about 10 p.m.