The Santa Rosa Junior College police evacuated the Call Child Development Center Friday morning after a “not live explosive” old training hand grenade was located at a Santa Rosa city schools’ building on Ridgeway Avenue, according to an email sent by SRJC President Angelica Garcia.
SRCS alerted the Santa Rosa Police Department and authorities to contact the National Guard Armory located nearby. SRJC police evactuated the child development center due to proximity.
The device was investigated and determined to not be a threat.
At 11:03 a.m., SRJC issued an alert stating the area was clear and safe to return.
The Children’s Center will remain closed to the public for the rest of Friday and will reopen Oct. 21, according to another SRJC alert.
“We were just told that the construction site found something, and because we have kids we evacuated to be safe,” said Stefani Oseguera, a family service worker at the Call Child Development Center.
The construction zone is directly behind the building.
An SRJC Urgent Alert was sent out to the college community at 9:45 a.m., telling students and faculty to, “AVOID THE AREA near the Call Child Development Center due to Police Activity.”
The alert also said there was no immediate threat.
Nearly 40 minutes later, another SRJC Alert was sent out informing the community that the Call Child Development Center was being evacuated. Parents were directed to pick up their children at Haehl Pavilion.
“It was a very calm evacuation,” said Alice Hampton, child development faculty. “We took the kids in wagons and went on a nice walk through the campus.”
This story is still developing. Check back for updates.
