RPD: ‘Suspicious package’ on Boardman Street determined not to be dangerous
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Police have determined that a “suspicious package” found on Saturday afternoon on Boardman Street wasn’t dangerous.
RPD closed down the area between Monroe Avenue and Pearl Street to investigate the package. News10NBC saw the bomb squad and the RPD Command Van at the scene, along with officers surrounding a house.
Officers originally responded to a domestic incident around 1:30 p.m. Soon after, they found a bag that seemed suspicious and called in the bomb squad out of abundance of caution for the community. RPD collected the package after it was deemed not dangerous.
Some neighbors say they had to be evacuated during the investigation. One neighbor spoke about what he saw that afternoon.
“I was sitting watching my surveillance cameras and I happened to notice a police officer pulled up at the house next to me,” John Derycke said. “He immediately got out of his car quick lickity split, went into his trunk, pulled out his automatic weapon, and then ran down to one of the driveways. And then, shortly before that, I heard two gunshots or what I thought were gunshots. Next thing I know, the police arrived and we’re at the situation we’re at.”
RPD said that, despite some neighbors believing they heard gunshots, there was no evidence of gunfire. Police took a 26-year-old man into custody in relation to the domestic incident.
RPD Captain Samuel Lucyshyn said the community was very understanding when officers blocked off the street, interrupting daily activities during the Fourth of July weekend.
“We’re very grateful to report that nobody was injured. Obviously, we’re again, extremely grateful for everybody that worked with us on this. And we’re also empathetic to the folks that had to leave their houses or otherwise disrupt their day as we close off the street,” Lucyshyn said.
The street reopened later that day. Here are photos from the scene:
