Religious Bookstore Evacuated in 3rd Smoke Bomb Incident

GARDEN GROVE —  Evacuation of a religious book store was forced Monday by noxious fumes from a smoke bomb, the third such bomb to be left in a religious establishment in less than a week, authorities said.

Several people complained of respiratory problems after the 2 p.m. incident at Joy Bells Bible Book Store at 12932 Main St., but nobody was hospitalized, police said.

Police said the smoke bomb found at the store appeared to be similar to those that were detonated at the Crystal Cathedral here on Friday and at the Trinity Broadcasting Network studio in Tustin last Thursday.

“It looks like (the three incidents) are possibly connected,” said Garden Grove Police Lt. Chuck Gibbs.

As were the other two smoke bombs, the one discovered Monday was hidden in a bag, police said.

“A customer found the device in a bag emitting fumes and told an employee, who called us,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs said detectives have been working on the case “nonstop.” “We got some pretty good leads,” he said.