Paul Bass Photo
Gargone returns from removing courthouse packages.
Traffic was stalled downtown and the police emergency squad swept into action on Elm Street Monday morning in response to a report about two “suspicious” packages — which (surprise!) turned out to be harmless.
Police received a call around 9 a.m. about the two packages, which were left at the state courthouse across from the Green, according to police spokesman Officer David Hartman.
Officers redirected traffic from Elm Street between Temple and Church, as Officer William Gargone suited up for protection just in case this was that one of 1,000 cases in which a “suspicious” package turned out to pose a real danger.
Gargone (who is accustomed to suiting up for truly dangerous missions in Afghanistan) retrieved the first box (pictured on the sidewalk), which contained clothing. Then he retrieved the second box, which also posed no threat, Hartman reported shortly as streets were reopened to traffic around 10:30 a.m. Hartman said police have identified a suspect, whom they’ll probably charge with breach of peace.
Why is the word 'suspicious' surrounded by quotes? Was it not actually suspicious?