Update: ‘Suspicious package’ in Junction turns out to be road flares

(TOPLINE: Short-lived scare in The Junction, all over now)

11:30 AM: A fire call in the 4500 block of 42nd SW has some evacuations under way. We’ll be there shortly.

11:35 AM UPDATE: 42nd is blocked off north of SW Alaska, as you can see in the photo above, sent by Dale (thank you!). Scanner traffic has mentioned a “suspicious package”; we’re checking with authorities on scene. We’ve also just talked with Leon Capelouto, owner of the building, who says he believes the first report came from a manager at Altamira Apartments in the building.

11:40 AM UPDATE: Police confirm it’s a suspicious package – they heard about it around 11 am. The caller reported what looked like “a box of dynamite.” The Arson and Bomb Squad has just arrived, according to SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson.

The evacuations are just as a precaution. Patrol units are there, helping with traffic control. Evacuees are gathered in various spots nearby.

Det. Jamieson says the “package” is apparently inside the building.

11:51 AM UPDATE: All clear, police and fire tell us at the scene – the “suspicious package” turned out to be a box of road flares. The road is reopening and those who were evacuated will be allowed back inside.

Diane February 1, 2012 (11:32 am)

another tanning bed on fire?

WorldCitizen February 1, 2012 (11:44 am)

What looks like a BOX OF DYNAMITE!?!?!

mookie February 1, 2012 (11:55 am)

* facepalm *

Bounce February 1, 2012 (11:57 am)

Annnd Wile E. Coyote is foiled again.

vraxvalahalla February 1, 2012 (12:31 pm)

we will never forget 2-1-12.

Jena February 1, 2012 (1:11 pm)

I have a home childcare across the street from the building so I say, way to go Seattle SPD and FD for your quick and thorough response! Better safe than sorry in my book because I had twelve little kiddos to keep safe. An officer personally came to my door to reassure us that it was all under control, calming down myself and a few nervous kids with some stickers. :)

sarelly February 1, 2012 (2:01 pm)

Yeah, but people really need to get over this knee-jerk paranoia. Sure, better safe than sorry – but also, get a grip! Nobody living in West Seattle is important enough to bomb. And what makes a package “suspicious” anyway?

Westside February 1, 2012 (2:11 pm)

They should have figured it out right away when “TNT” wasn’t written in big letters on the side.

JD February 1, 2012 (2:12 pm)

How does someone know what dynamite looks like but not a road flare. One of those is much more common than the other. just makes me /facepalm

WSB February 1, 2012 (3:11 pm)

JD, I don’t think I’d know the difference, have never seen road flares that weren’t half-burned, out in the street …haven’t seen dynamite close up either … and if you don’t expect road flares to be in an apartment lobby (or wherever they were inside the building), certainly you can be startled. Interesting thing here is that it wrapped up VERY quickly, compared to myriad incidents I can think of in the past decade or so – white powder, weird envelope, etc. – that dragged on for hours. – TR

JN February 1, 2012 (2:15 pm)

So that’s what that was! At least no one was hurt.

2 Much Whine February 1, 2012 (3:13 pm)

At least they didn’t say “we thought it was sticks of dynamite but it turned out to be a bowl of tapioca pudding, our bad.” Flares at least look somewhat similar. I want to know who is going around buying boxes of road flares and storing them in public places – that’s the part that doesn’t seem to make sense to me.

Droog February 1, 2012 (3:52 pm)

Did some soccer fans drop their goods?

RayK February 1, 2012 (4:22 pm)

So what building had the package? Altavista was obliquely mentioned.

WSB February 1, 2012 (4:32 pm)

Sorry, it was Capco Plaza (we mention owner Leon C but not the building name – it was in our original first line but we downgraded that to an address while awaiting our crew’s arrival, and forgot to add it back). That’s the building with QFC, Altamira, Petco, etc. – TR

cmc February 1, 2012 (7:21 pm)

2 Much Whine — Lol on the tapioca pudding…thanks for the good laugh

Christopher Boffoli February 1, 2012 (8:27 pm)

I wonder: Who is the design genius that decided that road flares (which have the same basic size and shape as dynamite) should be clad in almost the exact color red paper wrapping?

Sorry, comment time is over.