Suspicious Package Closes Downtown Block

East Anapamu Street between Garden and Santa Barbara streets is currently blocked off due to a call around 11 a.m. this morning of a suspicious package at the Santa Barbara Police Department annex at 222 East Anapamu. A full response from fire units and the bomb squad is underway, but there is not a sense of immediate threat or emergency. Authorities are taking their time in assessing the situation. Further details are unclear at this time. Check back for updates to this story.

[UPDATE, 6 p.m.]: Fire and police officials determined that the suspicious package was not dangerous and contained no harmful materials. Police spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood said there was initial concern over some sort of chemical the package held, but he declined to elaborate, citing an open investigation. Harwood said the same police detective who received the package was sent a troubling note from the same source last week. It’s unclear if the sender is mentally ill or is intentionally trying to disrupt police activities, he explained. The annex building and section of closed Anapamu Street have been reopened.