Suspicious package in Mt. Angel leads to evacuation

9:03 AM, Jan. 24, 2012 |
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Written by

Cara Pallone

Statesman Journal

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School was delayed and two houses were evacuated when Mt. Angel police learned a man had abandoned a suspicious package at Berchtold Memorial Park, according to officials.

At about 3:45 a.m., Mt. Angel Police Department received a call of a disturbance. A man was reportedly screaming and yelling in the streets near Mt. Angel City Hall, located at 5 Garfield St.

Once in custody, the suspect led officers to believe there might be an explosive device in a suspicious package he had left near the gazebo at Berchtold Memorial Park, east of City Hall, according to officials.

The area was cordoned off and evacuated. Two houses in the vicinity were also evacuated.

The Mt. Angel School District delayed opening for two hours and canceled morning kindergarten, reportedly citing police activity in a call to parents.

Mt. Angel police Chief Mike Healy said the suspect appeared to be in his late 20s and has ties to Mt. Angel. He didn't know if the man was a Mt. Angel resident. The suspect is undergoing a mental health assessment in Salem, Healy said.

Don Wada, who collects newspapers for residents in his apartment building on Garfield Street every morning at about 4 a.m., said he heard a male yelling.

"There was some guy yelling and screaming at 3:45 a.m. down the road here," he said. "I wasn't curious enough to check anything out."

At 5:45 a.m., the Oregon State Police Explosives Unit responded and determined there were no explosives in the package.

Meanwhile, officers received a report from the suspect that a second explosive device may have been left in the area of St. Mary's Catholic Church in the 500 block of E College Street. The area was thoroughly searched and no other packages were located, officials said.

The area of St. Mary's Church, Berchtold Park and City Hall have been determined to be clear and safe and reopened to traffic at 7 a.m., officials said.

No injuries were reported.

* Reporter Saerom Yoo contributed to this report.