Nothing Suspicious Found in Package at Courthouse
What authorities thought was a suspicious package Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Yakima wasn't suspicious. Yakima Police and Federal authorities closed the
William O. Douglas Federal Building Tuesday morning for about 3 hours as they checked out the package. An initial X-ray of the package found a cell phone with wires and that prompted the response. However after checking out the package it was found to simply be a cell phone with some cords enclosed in the package.
The courthouse and surrounding buildings were evacuated Tuesday morning but things returned to normal on Tuesday afternoon. Since no suspicious device was found there's no follow up investigation expected.
Officials were on high alert Tuesday with both the Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff making a visit to Yakima. But officials say they believe the package had nothing to do with the visit.
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A suspicious package was received by someone in the William O' Douglas Federal Courthouse in Yakima Tuesday morning and now the building is closed. Yakima Police say local, federal and state authorities are now investigating with help from explosive experts in the Tri-Cities and the Yakima Training Center. No one has been injured. The courthouse on South 3rd Street remains closed. Officials with the Yakima Office of Emergency Management say the package was delivered and an X-ray of the package found questionable materials inside including a cell phone. The courthouse and surrounding buildings were evacuated earlier Today. Some people have been allowed back in their homes as the investigation continues. No injuries have been reported and there's no information about who the package was sent to in the federal courthouse.
Officials are on high alert Tuesday with both the Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff making a visit to Yakima. No public events are planned for the visit however and there's no indication the package has anything to do with their visit.