New Haven Police said the device found behind a home on Orchard Street Monday was made to look like a bomb, but turned out to be harmless.
Police had shut down Orchard between Elm Street and Edgewood Avenue , as well as several other streets while they removed the suspicious device. It was found by a tree removal company.
Students at a nearby school were kept inside for recess as a precaution.
The New Haven bomb squad took the device into Edgewood Park and detonated it.
Officers said it was not a bomb at all, but was designed to look like one. They continue their investigation.
