This evening at about 5pm, a suspicious package was discovered at the SouthPark mall and police quickly shut down traffic to the popular shopping center.
Bomb-sniffing K9 united were dispatched to Nordstrom to investigate the package.
Here is a video from someone that was inside the mall when they were evacuated. Currently, can't get to their car. @CMPD investigating a suspicious package outside Nordstrom at SouthPark Mall #WBTV pic.twitter.com/VXJO3Hk8R9
— WBTV Ben Williamson (@benlwilliamson) July 28, 2018
Police released a series of tweets warning the public to stay away from the area and to not be alarmed if a loud noise is heard;
Traffic alert: Fairview Rd at Sharon near Southpark Mall and Fairview at Barclay Downs is shut down. Please avoid the area as police are investigating a suspicious package.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) July 28, 2018
The package is outside Southpark Mall. The CMPD bomb squad is planning a render safe procedure which will create a loud noise. Do not be alarmed if you hear a loud noise in the area.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) July 28, 2018
About an hour ago, the police noted that the package was rendered safe and was still investigating.
The render safe procedure was successful. CMPD is continuing to investigate to identify the contents of the package and determine how it got outside the mall. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at 704-334-1600.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) July 29, 2018
The police just released a final tweet stated the owners of the package have been found and said it was nothing more than a cooler with a metal pot inside;
The owners of the package, which was a cooler containing a metal pot, have been located. They told officers they left it outside while shopping and planned to retrieve it later.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) July 29, 2018