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Boone Police Investigates Suspicious Device, Empty Pressure Cooker Found on Sidewalk

By Jesse Wood

After receiving a report of a “suspicious device” on a sidewalk near the Dan’l Boone Inn and Phill’s Citgo on Tuesday afternoon, the Boone Police Department checked it out and erred on the side of caution, calling in the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Disposal Unit.

The out-of-town bomb squad found the item, a pressure cooker, empty. 

“We don’t know who put it there or why. There may be a very innocent explanation. We are looking into it,” Boone Police Capt. Andy LeBeau said on Wednesday morning.

The call came into 911 at about 3:30 p.m. and shortly thereafter the nearby roads were cordoned off and nearby businesses closed briefly during the investigation. Once the bomb squad gave the “all clear,” the roads opened back up at about 6 p.m.

Update from Boone PD Release at 4:54 p.m.:

Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., the Boone 911 Communications Center received a report of a suspicious device in the vicinity of the intersection of Hardin Street and Howard Street. Boone Police responded and have cordoned off an area around the device.

Street Closures:

  • W King Street @ Depot Street
  • E King Street @ NC 105 EXT
  • Hardin Street @ Rivers Street

All pedestrian traffic is shut down around the incident.   The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Disposal Unit is en-route to the scene.  

Additional information will be released when it is available.

By Jesse Wood

The Boone Police Department is investigating a “suspicious device” on Tuesday afternoon near Hardin Street. 

The department has requested that the public avoid the area of the Dan’l Boone Inn restaurant. Hardin Street, portions of King Street and additional roads are closed as of 4:35 p.m for additional precautions. Traffic in the area is being rerouted. 

The Boone Police Department sent out its first alert on social media at 4:06 p.m. Follow the Boone Police Department on Twitter here.