Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Police have determined that a "suspicious item" found in an alley in downtown Salt Lake City on Monday doesn't pose a threat, but asked people to continue avoiding 200 South from Main Street to West Temple while investigators stand down.
"We have determined the suspicious item does not pose any threat," Salt Lake police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "We are releasing resources on scene, but that process may take between 60-90 minutes. We are asking people to continue avoiding the area."
The investigation began just before 8 a.m. when a community member called in a suspicious item found in an alley outside a business, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Mark Wian told reporters Monday afternoon.
Police officers responded to the scene with the hazardous devices unit and have been working with firefighters, the Air National Guard, FBI and the Salt Lake County Health Department.
"We have a lot of resources here. Community safety is our No. 1 priority right now," Wian said.
"Our HDU detectives are on scene assessing the situation. Please avoid the area. This includes all bike and foot traffic," police posted on X Monday morning.
In a later post sent just after 12:30 p.m., police said they were, "helping with a full evacuation of the U.S. Bank Tower located at 170 S. Main Street." Wian said the evacuation was "out of an abundance of caution," and said the area would be closed to all traffic, including pedestrian.
Officials didn't offer further description of the item, only saying that it was "out of the ordinary," during a news conference prior to the announcement that the item was not a threat.
Police have not said why they determined the item to be nonthreatening.
