McCully Shopping Center officials said in a statement Tuesday the release of 1,000 to 5,000 gallons of raw sewage into public streets and storm drains was caused by a large amount of paper towels and a spoon lodged in a drainpipe.

The sewage began spilling at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the shopping center. The center used a private contractor to clean up the spill.

The source of the spill had been reported as two blocked clean-out pipes, but the center said, “the problem was caused by a large amount of paper towels, etc. and a spoon lodged in the drainpipe.

“The McCully Shopping Center, and its owner and management express their sincerest apologies to its customers, tenants, and public for the incident and the inconvenience which it may have caused,” center officials said.