ST. GEORGE — A suspicious package triggered a call to the bomb squad Tuesday evening and resulted in the evacuation of a Hurricane supermarket for almost three hours.
Hurricane Police officers responded to Lin’s Marketplace at 1120 W. State St. after a suspicious package was discovered near a propane tank cylinder dispensary located in the front of the store shortly after 4 p.m.
All customers and employees were evacuated from the store at the direction of the police while officers made their way to the scene.
“We wanted to make sure that our guests and team members were moved to a safe place while the package was removed,” Rachel Wabel, corporate spokeswoman for Lin’s Marketplace told St. George News Wednesday afternoon.
Officers arrived and cordoned off the area where the package was located while the Washington County Bomb Squad responded to the scene.
A command post was set up on the east side of the market while two remote-controlled bomb-detecting robots were deployed and were seen maneuvering around the “suitcase-shaped object,” followed by a bomb squad member wearing protective gear, one witness said.
After the package was removed from the area, the store and adjacent parking lot were cleared by police and reopened for customers sometime after 8 p.m.
Wabel said the incident ended successfully, which she attributes to the Hurricane Police Department’s rapid response to the situation, and the actions of the Lin’s Marketplace employees.
“Our team members did exactly what they were supposed to do and their quick actions resulted in a favorable outcome for all involved,” she said.
Phone messages left with the Hurricane Police Department and county bomb squad seeking comment on the incident and what was contained in the package were not returned.
In addition to police and the bomb squad, Utah State Parks and Hurricane Valley Fire/EMS responded and tended to the scene.
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What the hell has happened to our “nice quiet little town?”
Remember: BIGGER IS BETTER, the slogan of cities of Southern Utah, St George leading the pack. This is a by-product of unbridled growth. Soon to be added; inner-city gangs and street peddling of drugs and sex.
@Mesaman Bless your heart, but we already have drugs on the streets and they have been doing prostitution stings here for way over 10 years.
Yep! Prostitution is one of the oldest professions on Earth!
LOL…. it’s already here
There has been a heroine epidemic in St George for several years, just talk to any local pharmacist who’s been here that long, it’s a real problem. Don’t be so blind to not understand that this “little town” isn’t little and isn’t immune from what’s happening behind the scene.
Just an excuse to roll out the new armored car toy.
we paid for it ! why not use it ?
I love it when Police departments get new stuff. They find any excuse to use it. Put on a big practice show. Just wait till all the riot gear comes out!
LOL ..oh yeah the riot gear should be good !