Grand Blvd at Windward Circle Tuesday.  “X” marks the spot.

CicLAvia Sunday just past the “X” spot.

Yes, it is CicLAvia Sunday, about 2:30 pm, Windward Circle.  Bikers are leaving Windward Circle and heading toward the beach.  They have just travelled down Grand Blvd from Venice Blvd.  Unbeknownst to all for a short time was a deserted backpack dropped off at the intersection of Windward circle and Grand Blvd, as shown above, just below the stop sign where the “X” is.

With the Boston Marathon less than a week old, the LAPD was, of course, on high alert.  And in case no one heard or read the news, the Boston Marathon was “disrupted” by bombs carried in backpacks.

Lone backpack was sighted by Officers Kristan Delatori and Peggy Thusing. (A picture could not be taken of backpack there because of the number of bicycles passing.)   It was assumed after the sighting that the bomb squad was called.  Meanwhile, Officers Thusing and Delatori diverted all traffic off Grand Blvd to another street.  Lt. Paola Kreeft, head of Oakwood-Venice task force, was soon to arrive.

Then, after all the traffic had been diverted, suddenly a young man walking his bike walked over and picked up the backpack.  Officer Kreeft who was standing not far from the backpack asked something like “What are you doing?”    It is believed Lt. Kreeft asked young man for identification.  Delatori and Thusing appeared shortly thereafter to see the guy who picked up the backpack and add a few words.

After it was all over, Officer Delatori said young man left backpack there unattended to do some filming.

Lt. Paulo Kreeft talking with young man, and perhaps, obtaining identification and probably cancelling the bomb squad.

Officer Delatori in the middle and Officer Thusing on the right listening to young man’s reason for leaving back pack and probably adding a few words.