From South Orange Village President Sheena Collum via Facebook on Sept. 24, 2016:
At approximately 4:40 this afternoon, the South Orange Police Department received a report of an unattended backpack being left on Sloan Street.
SOPD responded immediately, observed the backpack and deemed it suspicious. The Essex County Bomb Squad was notified and Sloan Street and the stores in the immediate vicinity were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The Essex County Bomb Squad arrived on the scene at approximately 5:00 p.m. and undertook and assessment of the backpack.
It was determined that the backpack did not contain any explosives nor present any threat to the public. Shortly thereafter, the owner, who had inadvertently left the backpack behind returned to reclaim the back pack.
The Village and SOPD appreciate the community’s understanding of the necessary precautionary evacuation and reminds all residents that if they see something, say something.
Great job again to South Orange Police Department.
