2 Reports of Suspicious Packages Investigated in Sarasota

A suspicious package spotted near Clark and Beneva roads by a passing motorist shut down traffic for about an hour Thursday evening.

The scene was cleared and roads reopened shortly before 7:30 p.m.

"In the words of the Patrol Sergeant, 'An empty box is a happy box,' " Sarasota County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Wendy Rose said in a media release.

The sheriff's Hazardous Devices Unit was called to the scene after the package was found near a fire hydrant and reported around 5:45 p.m., authorities said.

The area was closed to traffic, and some residents were notified to stay in their homes until the investigation was complete, according Rose.

"Obviously the motorist who called this in was being vigilant and we would rather respond and find nothing than for a suspicious package to go undetected and end up being something more sinister," Rose said.

Earlier Thursday, Sarasota Police were called to the 1400 block of First Street after a citizen reported a suspicious package there.

The person noticed the package was "unusual due to a false return address and insufficient postage," according to Officer Linda DeNiro, police spokesperson. 

Traffic was shut down on First Street for about an hour as the Sarasota County Fire Department HazMat Team collected the package for further evaluation.

Officials were still investigating the package Thursday evening, DeNiro said.

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