Suspicious Package at Bank Results In Road Closure and Evacuations

photos by Boyd Loving

Suspicious Package at Bank Results In Road Closure and Evacuations
September 4,2012
Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood NJ, An abandoned briefcase in front of the Capital One Bank on East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood resulted in a response by the Bergen County Police Department’s Bomb Squad late this afternoon. After receiving a 911 telephone call from a bank employee reporting the suspicious package, Ridgewood Police and Fire Department personnel closed a section of busy East Ridgewood Avenue and evacuated several nearby apartments, offices, and stores as they awaited arrival of the County’s explosive ordinance team.

photos by Boyd Loving

An x-ray machine was used to determine the briefcase was empty; the “all clear” was given just after 5:00 PM and the road was opened shortly thereafter.  Ridgewood PD personnel on the scene were under the command of Captain Jacqueline Luthke.  Ridgewood Fire Chief James Van Goor was the incident commander for fire department personnel.