'Suspicious Package' Found In Carlsbad Park Leads To Evacuation

A call to Carlsbad police about a suspicious package in Hosp Grove Park led to an evacuation and street closure Saturday afternoon.

The incident was reported to the Carlsbad Police Department at 2:10 p.m.

According to a caller who reported the incident, the package was spotted near the park's jungle gym and was described "as a medium-sized brown box that had batteries with black and red wires protruding from inside," according to a news release from police.

Officers responded to the park, evacuated it and shut down the 2200 block of Jefferson Street, the report continued. 

Once the area was secured by officers, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department Bomb/Arson Unit was called to the scene to dispose of the package. 

"At 3:37 p.m. the bomb/arson deputies utilized a high-velocity water cannon to destroy the package in place," the release stated.

The items inside the box were determined to be "improperly discarded" nickel cadmium batteries, police reported.

"Officers at the scene collected the batteries and sent them for recycling at the police station," the release continued. "The owner of the batteries has not been identified and no further investigation is necessary."