Sources confirmed to WBTV a suspicious package that was found in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) headquarters’ mailroom in uptown Charlotte, leading to an evacuation, had several electronic devices inside it.
Police said a bomb-sniffing K-9 named Boomer did alert on the package.
“When a bomb dog alerts on it, it isn’t a guarantee, but the dogs are trained to detect explosives and chemical components used to make explosives,” Capt. Mike Campagna said.
The evacuation began Tuesday around 4:30 p.m. Sources said the package was sent to the department via FedEx. They said it not have a specific name on it, but simply read “CMPD.”
CMPD News ? @CMPD
A suspicious package has been found at Cmpd headquarters. Building being evacuated.
4:57 PM – 27 Sep 2016
Sources said the package contained a cellphone, flashlight and bulb. The contents were X-rayed at the scene.
“Because of the danger associated with a suspicious package, it’s a very slow methodical process,” Campagna said.
The operation took nearly four hours before a robot was used to remove the package and take it to a secure location for testing. Tuesday night, the department applauded an attentive employee.
“It is a good reminder that our officers and our employees have to remain vigilant on the streets, and even when they’re in their offices, to make sure everyone in our environment stays safe,” Campagna said.
There is no word on how long it will take for CMPD to confirm if explosives were present in the package.
The ATF and FBI were at the scene to assist the department if needed.
http://www.wyff4.com/news/charlotte-police-hq-evacuated-after-suspicious-package-found/41853476
The handler of the bomb (or drug) sniffing K-9 gives some sort of subtle signal and the dog “alerts”.
In this case shutting a whole police dept. shut down for 4 hours…and they still don’t know if there were explosives in the package?
WTF?
The dog has already flunked the bomb sniffing test so it should be fired and given to a family that wants the dog. Of course, the police will find some BS excuse that the dog “alerted” inappropriately.
It was probably a planned exercise in the first place.
Doing double duty as a PsyOp to scare the population and occupy the headlines instead of actual important news.
I’ve always wondered if a random package handler, somewhere along the line of the shipping process, could cause a bomb sniffing K-9 to “alert” because he went hunting, shooting at a gun range or was reloading some ammo shortly before he physically handled the package. Or the box was used to temporarily hold some empty shotgun or brass shells for reloading.
I have no idea because I know nothing about these dogs.
But, what is their training level? Is there a threshold? Is it tested?
Am I going to be cuffed and slammed to the pavement because my shotgun and some empty shells were in the trunk recently after a day at the skeet range?
Food for thought.