PORT ANGELES — An unattended suitcase found across the street from the MV Coho ferry terminal Wednesday afternoon turned out to be just that.
A State Patrol explosives technician X-rayed the green suitcase found beside a garbage can at the corner of North Laurel Street and West Railroad Avenue.
It was empty.
Sgt. Ken Przygocki said he was patrolling the highways of Clallam County when he got the call about the suitcase. He retrieved State Patrol’s response truck and headed toward the waterfront.
The suspicious object was reported at 1:28 p.m. and Port Angeles police officers were on the scene within two minutes, according to PenCom dispatch records.
Street closed
Officers shut off the street to pedestrian and vehicle traffic until about 2:30 p.m.
The MV Coho had departed before the suitcase was reported and there were no delays, said Port Angeles Police Sgt. Glen Roggenbuck.
“The timing was just right,” he said, noting that the suitcase had been sitting across for the terminal for several hours before it was reported.
The green suitcase, which was dirty and had broken zippers, was likely abandoned at the location, next to a garbage can, because the owner did not want it any more, said Roggenbuck.
“Being right across from the ferry, it’s a little bit of an odd spot to be,” Przygocki said.
He donned a personal protective suit to inspect the suitcase.
“We don’t move it until we know what we’re dealing with,” Przygocki said.