Bomb Squad Responded to 1st and Alameda Sts for suspicious device in a tree. 
HE SAW SOMETHING; HE SAID SOMETHING
Around 12:30 pm today, May 3, 2011, a man was walking along 1st Street, east of Alameda Street, when he noticed a red object hanging from a string in a tree on the parkway.
The man, a former-Marine, thought the top of the device resembled a hand grenade, while the exterior of the object appeared to be a red apple. Remembering the LAPD message of "See something; say something," he immediately called police.
Using a specialized cannon, bomb technicians shot and broke apart the apple, which turned out to be made out of styrofoam, and later concluded there was NO explosive inside.
"After closer examination, it appears the object was a type of ornament, perhaps left over from the holidays," said Lt. Paul Vernon. "Even though there was no explosive, the former Marine did the right thing in reporting it. Better to be safe in these cases."
Traffic on Alameda Street was reopened at 3 PM, and 1st Street traffic was opened by 3:30 PM.
Summary prepared by Lt. Paul Vernon, 16:30 hours.
Address/Location
LAPD - Central Area
251 East 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 213-972-1298
Paul Vernon
Central Detective Division
[email protected]
213-972-1203