Suspicious device found near courthouse
This device was found Monday afternoon in a parking lot near The Hitching Post, north of the Kootenai County Courthouse. Coeur d’Alene Police considered the device suspicious, contacted the Spokane Bomb Squad and established a perimeter. The device has since been removed, and the area is now free for traffic and pedestrians to pass.
The Coeur d’Alene Department cordoned off a lot near the Kootenai County Courthouse after a local employee found a suspicious package.
Police and first responders secured a perimeter as the Spokane Bomb Squad traveled to the scene, according to Coeur d’Alene Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Jared Reneau.
Officers blocked traffic from the intersection of Government Way and Northwest Boulevard, as well as along First Street between Wallace and Garden. Pedestrians were ushered to a safe distance. The courthouse remained open for the duration of the incident.
“The package was intentionally designed to look like an explosive device,” Reneau said after the all-clear was given at 5:30 p.m. “Obviously, it’s concerning when something that looks like a bomb is discovered. We acted promptly to secure the area and protect the public.”
The package was found in a parking lot north of the courthouse, near the Hitching Post.
The Spokane Bomb Squad removed the item from the scene. The investigation is ongoing.