Bomb squad investigation delays departures from Sharks' game
SAN JOSE >> Technicians with the city police department's bomb squad investigated the contents of a locker at SAP Center on Sunday but found nothing suspicious inside, authorities said.
In statements, police said officers responded to arena staff around 7:15 p.m. after a private contractor's explosives-detection dog became focused on a locker inside the arena.
Police said the locker's contents were not known, but added there was no threat to public safety.
Shortly before 11 p.m., a police spokesman said officers had issued an allclear after nothing suspicious was found in the locker. There were no reports of injury.
In social media posts, some visitors attending Sunday evening's San Jose Sharks game expressed concern about inconvenience with cordoned-off locker areas near a parking lot.
Due to SAP Center's bag policy, Shanna Vela of Chico, who was attending her first NHL game Sunday night, had left her purse in one of the lockers outside the arena.
She was expecting to have to stay for another hour or two to retrieve her belongings before arena staff gave everyone the all-clear to leave around 10:30 p.m.
“We were contemplating just going back to the hotel and coming back in the morning. So we were kind of waiting it out to see,” Vela said. “They said it was going be two to three hours on the first announcement (shortly before 9 p.m.). So we heard two to three hours and then another two hours, but that's under two hours. So we're very happy. … Definitely an adventure.”
Vela and her friend, Rob Henderson, also of Chico, were planning to go to wine country in the North Bay on Monday.
“We're like, we need to get the purse out of the box,” Vela said. “But the (SAP Center) staff has been very helpful.”
Greg Smith of Concord said he parked his car in the area that was barricaded near the lockers, and was expecting a long stay inside the arena.
“I work with PG&E so I've I got work early in the morning. Out of precaution, they're doing everything they can to double-check, which is appreciated,” said Smith, a fan of the Vegas Golden Knights.
All fans inside the lounge area were given popcorn and free water or soft drinks.
“They took good care of us,” Smith said.
An arena employee told patrons inside the arena to leave their contact information with a SAP Center staff member so that they can come back to a future game free of charge.