Fake Bomb Shuts Down Encino Neighborhood Tuesday Night

A fake bomb and a real threatening message had a section of Encino shut down Tuesday night while the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad took care of things. The "phony explosive device" was discovered at around 6:15 p.m. on top of a vehicle near the intersection of Newcastle Avenue and Santa Rita Avenue, located just south of Ventura Boulevard, according to LAPD Officer Karen Rayner, reports City News Service.

Along with the suspicious device was a written note directed at a particular individual, though Rayner would not offer further details about the message.

A four-block area around the investigation site was evacuated, and at about 10:35 p.m. the bomb squad sent in their robotic device to probe the supposed bomb. Ultimately the device was determined to be a fake.

Authorities are working to determine if the message and the faux explosive was meant to "frighten its target or intended as a joke."