Updated: Bomb Scare at Palm Springs Art Museum Prompts Evacuation

4:30 P.M. UPDATE:

Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device team has determined that the packages left at the Palm Springs Art Museum did not contain explosives.

The incident is not considered a criminal matter and the museum reopened to the public at 4:15 p.m.

The contents of the packages was not disclosed as of late Thursday, officials said.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The Palm Springs Art Museum was evacuated today because of two "suspicious packages" found there, police said.

According to Palm Springs Police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff, a report of the packages came in around 12:30 p.m.  

"One package was located inside of the museum and one was located outside of the museum," he said.

Responding officers subsequently closed Museum Drive between Tahquitz Canyon Way and the museum's north parking lot.  They also called in the sheriff's department Hazardous Device Team.

"The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Hazardous Device Team was notified and is responding to location to investigate the packages," Kovaleff said.

Anyone more with information was asked to call police at (760) 323-8116.

The Palm Springs Art Museum— which has a branch in Palm Desert— is located at 101 N Museum Drive, in the downtown area.