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Suspicious Package Causes Scranton Building Evacuation
Suspicious Package Causes Scranton Building Evacuation - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 04:06AM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday March 23 2010
5.0000/ 5 rating
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - One of the busiest office buildings in downtown Scranton was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a suspicious package was discovered.
The situation started to play out around 3:00 PM at the Oppenheim Building on Lackawanna Avenue. The building is also where WBRE has a newsroom.
Police say an unidentified man came into the social security office and left a package behind. Officials didn't want to take any chances, so they called in Scranton police.
A majority of the offices in the building were evacuated.
"A gentleman went into the Social Security Administration and left a suitcase. He explained he was gonna leave the Social Security Administration and go to the IRS office on the fifth floor. He never returned," building manager Jim Walsh said. "They assumed this was a suspicious package."
No chances were taken. Gas was cut to the building as a precaution.
Work ground to a hault for more than an hour as many people lined Lackawanna Avenue to see what was going on. A robot was brought in to take out the package safely.
Officials don't know if there was any malicious intent but workers say it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Its scary," Sharon Lynett said. "You never know with the times what will happen, so you have to take all precautions." Lynett works for Scranton senator Bob Casey.
Shortly after 4:00 PM, workers were allowed back into the building. One man was taken away for questioning. There is no word if he will face any charges. | | |
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