Police Warn of Bombs in Traffic Cones

Baffled police are warning Southern California residents to beware of traffic cones after finding three gasoline bombs planted last week near Los Angeles-area schools and a library.

Investigators have no idea who planted the booby-trapped orange cones, each topped with an artificial flower, LAPD Det. Carlos Velasquez said Tuesday. Nor have they any clues to the motive.

The three bombs were faulty and did not explode. But because the devices were several miles apart, LAPD detectives sent an alert to all law enforcement agencies in Southern California.

“We don’t know where this guy might be going next,” Velasquez said.

The first one turned up May 7 next to Florence Nightingale Middle School on Figueroa Street, near the Golden State Freeway. A day later, passersby found one in a parking lot behind Hillside Elementary School at Avenue 35 and the Pasadena Freeway. The third popped up Friday night after closing time at the Rosemead Library, about eight miles east of the two schools.

“He’s covering a lot of ground,” said Lt. Bill Dunn of the Sheriff’s Department explosives unit.

Dunn said officials are mystified about possible motives. “I don’t know what the issue would be. If there is one, it’s certainly obscure.”

the public, especially young people, Dunn said.

School officials asked parents to warn children to stay away from “any familiar object in an unfamiliar place.”

Because police said the form of the bombs might change, Los Angeles Unified School District officials decided to warn staff and students about anything odd or out of place, district spokeswoman Cricket Bauer said. Every principal in the district was alerted by letter May 9, and a follow-up letter went out Tuesday.

Dunn warned the public to be wary of any odd-looking traffic cone. “Don’t touch it. Call the local police agency,” he said.

The three incendiary devices are being analyzed and show a “moderate level of sophistication,” Dunn said.

Both Dunn and Velasquez said they’ve never heard of bombs designed around traffic cones and flowers.

“The thing with the daisies reminds me of the 1950s movies where the guy would leave a black glove or something at the crime scene as his signature,” Dunn said. “I expect you’re going to see this again.”

The device consists of a bottle filled with gasoline or similar flammable substance and hidden under an orange cone with an artificial flower stuck in the top.

Disturbing the cone or the flower could cause an explosion, authorities said.

The devices near the schools were both placed there in broad daylight, Velasquez said. “There are people that probably saw this guy set these things down that probably didn’t know what he was setting down.”

In an apparent copycat case, a 13-year-old Monterey Park girl was detained Tuesday after she allegedly placed a hoax cone with a flower outside of St. Stephens Martyr Elementary School about noon.

The girl was traced inside the school by dogs, said Sgt. Donald Shively of the sheriff’s bomb squad.

The incident highlights a concern police had about putting information about the gasoline bombs out, Shively said. “You do have reservations about putting this out because the copycats come out,” he said.

The young girl is unlikely to face jail time, Shively said, but she could face other punishment, including being disciplined by the school.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD detectives at (213) 473-7474 or the Sheriff’s Department at (562) 946-7222.

Times staff writer Hector Becerra contributed to this story.