Suspicious package left at ISP office

COEUR d'ALENE - The Spokane Bomb Squad was called to the Idaho State Police headquarters on Wilbur Avenue Thursday, after a suspicious person left a package in the lobby and ran away.

According to Coeur d'Alene City Police Sgt. Christie Wood a male in his late 20s or early 30s came into the lobby at ISP headquarters and tried to leave a grocery sack for an ISP trooper around noon.

"He was trying to deliver it through the glass, but he wouldn't say what was in the bag," Wood said, adding he couldn't name the trooper either.

"He was acting suspicious and left the bag on a counter in the lobby," she said. "Then he hightailed it and ran east toward Highway 95."

Wood said ISP troopers gave chase but lost the suspect, who was later seen riding a Citylink bus to Riverstone. The suspect was still at large Thursday afternoon.

The Spokane Bomb Squad was called to investigate the package after the ISP building was evacuated.

"The package certainly did look suspicious," Wood said. "That is why so many of us are here."

The bomb squad was able to examine the suspicious device and found the plastic grocery bag contained two cellphones, some handwritten statements "that are gibberish," and other miscellaneous garbage, Wood said. The squad determined there was no threat.

Officers closed Wilbur Avenue for three hours during the ordeal.

Wood said the suspect who left the items is still of interest to the police. He is in his late 20s to early 30s, 5-foot 9-inches tall, of medium build, has dark hair and is possibly Hispanic. The man was wearing a black T-shirt (possibly a tank-top), tan shorts, a black baseball cap, black bandana and small-frame dark sunglasses.

He was last seen exiting a Citylink bus in Riverstone.

Anyone who may know the suspect's identity or whereabouts is encouraged to call Coeur d'Alene Police at 769-2320.