UPDATED: "Suspicious Item" Draws State Police Bomb Squad and Hazmat Team to Quality Inn

A "suspicious item" found this morning at the Quality Inn & Suites on Bedford Street led Lexington police call in members of the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad, Hazmat team and fire marshals to investigate.

"We're investigating what we're calling a suspicious item in one of the rooms," said Police Capt. Manny Ferro. "It's worrisome enough for us to call in the Hazmat team."

Ferro said that a cleaning person found an unknown item in a room at the Quality Inn, at 440 Bedford St., this morning, and alerted staff who then called police.

Police, firefighters and members of the state police bomb squad, Hazmat team and fire marshal's office have been at the motel since about 10:30 this morning. Police have cordoned off an area surrounding most of the motel and are investigating near the back of the building.

Ferro said officials are in the early stages of the investigation and do not yet know what the item is. One of the two Quality Inn buildings, which are parallel to each other, was evacuated this morning. 

At 12:30 p.m. the situation was upgraded to a Tier 2 response, which makes more resources available on the scene for short-term operations, from a Tier 1 response, which is risk and assessment.

Fire Chief William Middlemiss said the upgrade to a Tier 2 response was made to provide additional resources, and not necessarily because the situation has become more dangerous.

"As the situation is unfolding, we determined we needed additional resources," Middlemiss said. "The quicker they are put out there, the quicker we can resolve the situation."

Around 1:30, members of the state Dept. of Environmental Protection's emergency response team and Hanscom Air Force Base fire protection units arrived at the Quality Inn. The two Hanscom trucks left shortly after. 

Also around 1:30, the state Dept. of Fire Services' special operations incident support unit arrived.

Check back for more information as it becomes available.