SJAFB airmen defuse 'threat'
By John Joyce
Published in News on April 23, 2014 1:46 PM
A suspicious package making "an alarm sound" in the parking lot of the Rite Aid at 100 S. Berkeley Blvd. prompted an evacuation of the surrounding area Tuesday evening.
Bomb disposal experts from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base dismantled the device, according to police.
"The clerk at Rite Aid called (911) and said there was a suspicious item in the parking lot," Goldsboro police Maj. Mike West said.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron were called to the scene.
"The officers found a small package wrapped in aluminum foil," West said.
The officers initially asked for bomb-sniffing dogs to be sent out, but they were advised that procedure would not be necessary since the package had been located.
In a statement released this morning by Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, a senior member of the EOD team said the package was determined to be harmless.
The airmen arrived on scene at 10:34 p.m. and deployed their robot to identify the package -- a retail security tag wrapped in aluminum foil.
Master Sgt. Christopher Wakham said assisting local law enforcement and protecting the community is part of the EOD mission.
"We're happy to work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement to protect the city of Goldsboro," he said. "We're part of the community and have a duty to enhance the safety and security of the base and surrounding areas."
The Goldsboro Police Department will continue to investigate the incident to try determine if the object was placed in the parking lot intentionally.
Security camera footage from the Rite Aid will be reviewed, but since there was no call placed making an actual bomb threat, the potential to investigate the matter is limited, West said.