Roads closed for suspicious circumstances at SPD precinct

SEATTLE — Seattle police shut down several blocks and recommended evacuations after what they called a suspicious incident on Capitol Hill.

They found a black suitcase on the street right in front of the East Precinct.

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Eventually they used a robot to take X-rays of the suitcase -- and a police officer removed it.

There is no word yet on what was in it -- but that did not matter to the people who were there when it happened.

“Our friends who own Juicebox are still in there and there’s suspicious activity on the block," Rachel Ravitch said. "It seems pretty irresponsible the police didn’t clear the block. There’s still people inside all of these businesses."

Juicebox Café, which is right next to the precinct and about 20 feet from this suspicious suitcase, did voluntarily close but they were not required to.

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Police were also looking at a bottle near the suitcase.

Roadways near the precinct were periodically closed Sunday as police investigated. A KIRO 7 photographer near the East Precinct showed police blocking off roadways with police tape at about 12:30 p.m.

Seattle police said at about 2 p.m. that the situation was beginning to wrap up. Officers thanked members of the public for their patience throughout the investigation.

Stay with kiro7.com for updates.

Cox Media Group