Bomb technicians have taken a suspected explosive away from the Kern County Sheriff’s property room on L Street in downtown Bakersfield.

Sheriff’s spokesman Ray Pruitt says the item was booked into the facility by a probation officer on Friday.

“The probation officer believed that the device, which was similar in appearance to an explosive device, was not explosive and was safe,” Pruitt said.

However, says a technician determined that the device was still dangerous during a closer look Tuesday morning, forcing seven people to evacuate before noon.

The item was moved from the scene at around 2 p.m.

– Anthony Pollreisz