UPDATE: The suspicious device brought to the Riviera Beach Police Department was not an explosive, police say.
A spokesperson for Riviera Beach police says the device contained an unidentified liquid.
Additional testing is being done by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Residents were told they could return to their homes and roads in the area were reopened.
Residents allowed back in homes.Police say pipe is not explosive.Liquid inside it being investigated @WPTV pic.twitter.com/dpisGhiFAa
— Gabrielle Sarann (@GabrielleSarann) December 20, 2015
EARLIER:
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- The Palm Beach County bomb squad responded to the Riviera Beach police headquarters Sunday afternoon to investigate what appeared to be a pipe bomb inside the lobby of the station.
Less than 20 homes in the area were evacuated and surrounding streets were closed while officials dealt with the suspicious device.
"I was concerned that I could get blown up," said Barbara Roberts, who lives a block away from the police station.
Roberts says police advised her to stay in her home.
"I got on the phone and I called my kids, they live in Orlando," explained Roberts. "I told them if anything goes on I'm letting you know in advance what's going on with your mom and your dad."
Riviera Beach police say a city resident brought a white PVC pipe about six inches long into the police department lobby. They say the pipe is capped on both ends and resembled what could be a pipe bomb.
"Apparently he had rented the property, the property had been vacated," said Rose Ann Brown, the spokeswoman for the Riviera Beach Police Department, about the person who brought the pipe to the police department. "He was inspecting the property and found something that did not look at all familiar to him."
Police say the pipe is not explosive and is likely not dangerous. The PBSO bomb squad is investigating a liquid found inside the pipe.
"To anyone who finds something like this, do not remove it yourself," said Brown. "Do not bring it to public safety officials rather call 911."
