Police Investigating Suspicious Package Near Medlar Field
Update (5:30 p.m.): Penn State confirmed that nothing was in the package after sending in a robot to perform a controlled detonation. The investigation is ongoing, but Spokesperson Reidar Jensen said that there was no danger to the community at any point in time.
Original Post
Police are investigating reports of a suspicious package south of Medlar Field. As of 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday Porter Road is closed from Curtin Road to Hastings Road while police investigate the report.
According to police the suspicious package was reported at 2:12 p.m. The first of two PSU Alert texts went out at 2:33 p.m.
The area is currently blocked off and police are asking people to avoid the area.
We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
UPDATE (3:40 p.m.): University Spokesman Reidar Jensen told members of the media that bomb technicians are en route to the scene. This is standard procedure with emergency management and State College Police.
The suspicious package was found by employees pulling up fence posts near the sustainability center.
UPDATE (4:00 p.m.): The Penn State Hazardous Material Response team arrived at the scene.
“They said in this suspicious package they believe there may be a pipe bomb,” Erin Calandra, a reporter for WJAC, said on Periscope.
UPDATE (4:48 p.m.): Authorities have brought in a bomb-defusing robot to investigate the suspicious package.
UPDATE (5:12 p.m.): Our reporters on the scene heard an explosion in the distance after the robot went in. Appears to be under control. Authorities are beginning to clear the area and re-open the road.
UPDATE (5:30 p.m.): Penn State Spokesperson Reidar Jensen said that there was nothing in the package and that the explosion was a controlled detonation from the bomb robot. Bomb technicians determined that there was no threat after investigation.
Jensen noted that this is in isolated incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!