Community Corner
Bomb Squad Brought in to Investigate Suspicious Item on Old Church Street
Middletown Police closed off Broad and Old Church streets to traffic after a suspicious package was discovered near the synagogue Sunday morning.
UPDATE: Capt. Wallace tells Middletown Patch the object was a sewing machine. Streets were reopened at 11:30 a.m. and the bomb squad returned to Hartford.
Original Story:
Middletown Police cordoned off Broad and Old Church streets after a suspicious package was discovered near the synagogue Sunday morning.
Capt. Gary Wallace said the item was found about 9:45 a.m. on the corner of Broad and Old Church streets by the Adath Israel Synagogue by a passerby, who immediately alerted authorities.
Wallace said the First United Methodist Church, where Mass was in session, was evacuated and parishioners moved to the South Green pavilion along Main Street and allowed to continue worshipping.
They sang, "It's me, oh Lord, standin' in the need of prayer ... " as police, a fire truck and ambulance stood on alert.
A couple of pedestrians, unaware of the potential danger, were prevented from walking on the western side of the green.
The Hartford bomb squad arrived on scene just before 11 a.m. to investigate and within a half hour, they had determined the item was an older-type portable sewing machine. As Mayor Dan Drew arrived on scene for a briefing, officers removed police tape and through traffic resumed.
Original Story:
Middletown Police cordoned off Broad and Old Church streets after a suspicious package was discovered near the synagogue Sunday morning.
Capt. Gary Wallace said the item was found about 9:45 a.m. on the corner of Broad and Old Church streets by the Adath Israel Synagogue by a passerby, who immediately alerted authorities.
Wallace said the First United Methodist Church, where Mass was in session, was evacuated and parishioners moved to the South Green pavilion along Main Street and allowed to continue worshipping.
They sang, "It's me, oh Lord, standin' in the need of prayer ... " as police, a fire truck and ambulance stood on alert.
A couple of pedestrians, unaware of the potential danger, were prevented from walking on the western side of the green.
The Hartford bomb squad arrived on scene just before 11 a.m. to investigate and within a half hour, they had determined the item was an older-type portable sewing machine. As Mayor Dan Drew arrived on scene for a briefing, officers removed police tape and through traffic resumed.
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