Early Halloween Costume Brings Out San Mateo Bomb Squad
SAN MATEO (CBS SF) — A man who decided to try out his costume and dress up ahead of Halloween prompted an explosives scare in downtown San Mateo Monday that resulted in the dispatch of a police bomb squad, authorities said.
Police received several calls about a man standing in front of a market along 4th Street wearing what witnesses described as a full gas mask and army gear with several grenades hanging around his neck.
The bomb squad responded to the scene and police said the man was detained; he was found with an "inert grenade," but police indicated there was "no current danger" to the public.
Police said the man's "early Halloween costume provoked (their) response."