CALIFORNIA - Cops emerge victorious from standoff with empty car..

OFF THE WIRE
A police dog sniffed out instantly what it took San Diego cops two hours to figure out: There was no one inside the busted-down sedan on the shoulder of Interstate 8. HuffPo reports that police thought a home-invasion suspect might be hiding in the car, and therefore dropped a giant tree branch on the car to break out the rear window before sending in the K-9 unit. Then they thought the guy might be hiding in the trunk, and tried prying it open with a crowbar and a battering ram.

Locals want to know why authorities didn't shut down the roadway if there was a risk of gunplay, but we have another question: Once they had smashed the window and could get into the car, why not pop the trunk the way we civilians do?

Video: http://now.msn.com/living/0216-cops-empty-car.aspx