Detectives have determined the “suspicious device” that was located near the protest in Valencia Thursday was not an explosive and are continuing to investigate the incident.

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On Thursday around 1 p.m., a suspicious device was located in a planter near the Shell Gas Station on Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway near a protest in Valencia, according to officials.

See Related: Suspicious Device’ Found Near Valencia Protest

“The device was an 18-inch long by three-inch wide metal object,” said Detective Alex Miller, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson and Explosive Detail.

When detectives arrived on scene, we did not know what the object was until they were able to move the device with their robot to a safer location and x-ray the object, Miller said.

After analyzing the object, it was determined that the device was not an explosive, according to officials.

“It looked like a cotter pin that would be used for a trailer hitch (to support) thousands of pounds,” Miller said.

As of Friday afternoon, detectives are still investigating whether the object was there prior to the protest, placed there to be used as a weapon, or there to be used as a hoax because it does look like a pipe bomb, according to Miller

“We’re glad someone found it to keep protesters safe,” said Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at the time of the incident

Although detectives had closed down a small area around the Shell gas station where the device was located, the protest was not affected.

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