Courthouse reopened after police investigate suspicious package
Updated at 4:46 p.m.
LAWRENCE - The Douglas County Courthouse reopeedn after bveing evacuated while officers investigate a suspicious package. People were being let back inside the building around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
County administrator Craig Weinaug said the building at 11th and Massachusetts was evacuated shortly after 2:30 p.m. About 50 workers from the old county courthouse building were evacuated. The nearby law enforcement building was not evacuated. Workers who were evacuated were given the option of going home. A skeleton crew will be kept on scene, in case the courthouse reopens.
Elected county commissioners are among those who evacuated. Commissioners were preparing for a 3 p.m. county commission meeting.
Undersheriff Steve Hornberger said the suspicious item was an unattended package that was not explosive. "We wanted to make sure there was no danger to our property or individuals," he said. Police from Overland Park were called in to help investigate the small white bag. The Lawrence-Douglas County fire department was also on scene. Traffic on 11th Street between New Hampshrie and Massachusetts has been shut down while officers investigate.
This is the second time law enforcement have investigated a suspicious package today. Officials were called out to the Farmland Industries site earlier after a utility worker discovered a device determined to be non-threatening.
Weinaug said the last time the building was evacuated was a couple of years ago, when a dead mouse caused an odd smell.
We have a crew on the scene and will have more information tonight on 6News at 6 and 10, on Knology channel 6.
