Suspicious briefcase prompts bomb squad response

EAST WENATCHEE — A suspicious briefcase discovered outside a storage building on the City Hall campus Monday evening prompted a response from the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad, authorities said.

East Wenatchee police responded about 6:40 p.m. March 16 to a report of an unattended item near a door at 271 Ninth St. NE, according to a police press release.

A night janitor found the briefcase on the ground and reported it to authorities. Officers determined the circumstances were suspicious and reviewed security camera footage, which showed the briefcase had been placed at the location earlier in the day. The moment it was left was not captured due to large vehicles blocking the camera’s view, police said.

Police reported there were no known reports of lost or stolen briefcases in the area.

The parking lot was closed as a precaution, and the state patrol bomb squad was called to assist. Bomb squad members arrived from Yakima at about 10:32 p.m. and conducted an X-ray examination of the briefcase.

Authorities determined the item did not pose a threat, and the parking lot was reopened by 11 p.m.

Police ask anyone with information to contact East Wenatchee Police at 509-884-9511 or RiverCom at 509-663-9911.