May 17, 2004

Waterbury-WTNH, The BJ's Wholesale Club in Waterbury was evacuated for a couple hours this afternoon because of a suspicious suitcase. The suitcase was later found to be empty.

According to police, off-duty police sergeant from Bridgeport was shopping in the store. When he returned to his SUV he found a suspicious looking suitcase against his driver-side door.

Police were called and a bomb-sniffing dog "got a hit," indicated there were traces of nitrate on the suitcase.

The State Police Bomb Squad was called to the scene and an officer dressed in protective gear examined the suitcase a couple of times. A short time later the emergency was called off.

News Channel 8's reporter Alan Cohn reports police say their dog made a mistake. The suitcase was empty.

The bag was put in the trunk of a police cruiser and carried away.

Waterbury Police and State Police cordoned off the area for a couple of hours, blocking off roads and evacuating some area residents.

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=1873332