Crime & Safety

Toilet, Petition Cause Monday Morning Bomb Scare at Courthouse

Police shut down streets after county maintenance worker finds suspicious package.

Updated (12:04 p.m.)—Police shut down several streets around the Old Courthouse on Monday morning for a bomb scare sparked by a strange package left on the sidewalk that included a petition for local officials.

According to police, around 8 a.m. county maintenance worker found suspicious items on the Washington Avenue sidewalk in front of the courthouse. The device was a toilet bowl plastered with stickers and newspaper clippings with a cell phone and compact disc attached to it. An old radio sat next to the toilet bowl with a note written on cardboard nearby, and an apparent petition attached to it.

After finding the device outside the courthouse, the maintenance worker notified security personnel at the courthouse.

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"It appeared to be suspicious, so they contacted police," police spokesman Lt. Rob McCullough said.

Police sent a bomb disposal unit to investigate, before declaring the area safe. Several roads around the courthouse, including Washington Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Chesapeake, were shut down, though no buildings were evacuated. Workers arriving during the Monday morning rush hour were re-routed.

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"We, the undersigned, are supporters of Duane Gerald Davis (Shorty)," the note attached to the radio read, going on to identify Davis as a "well respected" Baltimore-area resident. The note requested that state and local officials push the town of Zion, IL, to "conduct a complete and impartial investigation" into the 2006 death of Davis' son, Gerrell.

According to a 2006 Chicago Tribune report, the younger Davis, 16, was shot and killed by a homeowner during an attempted burglary.

McCullough said nobody was ever in danger during the incident and that police have identified a possible suspect. He could not comment on the complete comments of the notes.


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