Thomas MacMIllan Photo
Officer Joe Tempesta climbed into a Ninja-Turtle-like suit, snapped on a thick metal helmet and walked alone down Elm Street towards a package that police thought might be a bomb.
An hour after police roped off Elm Street Thursday evening, he came back with a verdict: It was just an ordinary backpack.
The action took place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday outside the headquarters of WTNH Channel 8 at Elm and State streets.
Police blocked off Elm Street downtown between Orange and State as a bomb squad investigated the suspicious bag, left near a trashcan.
After X‑rays and dismantling by Officer Tempesta of the bomb squad, the bag was revealed to contain only clothes, said Sgt. Rose Turney.
She was one of several cops who taped off the street. She said someone had walked by the bag, figured he’d seen something and said something to the fire department.
Police responded, were unable to see into the bag, and called the bomb squad, which comprises New Haven and Yale police officers. Cops diverted Elm Street traffic north and south on Orange Street while the squad worked.
With the help of fellow bomb squad members, Officer Tempesta climbed into his protective gear. He walked alone to the package, took X‑rays of the parcel, and returned to the bomb squad truck, where he waited on the bumper, sipping water and sweating in the hot suit.
The X‑rays, developed in the truck, revealed nothing dangerous in the bag. Tempesta donned his helmet once again, walked to the bag, opened it and took everything out. It turned out it was filled with just clothes and “personal items,” Turney said.
It's kind of odd to know that all one needs to do is throw some laundry in a bag to derail a town