LV police blow up briefcase

Las Vegas police blew up a briefcase left across the street from the federal courthouse as a precaution on Tuesday, after receiving reports of a suspicious package.

Police did not say what was inside the briefcase, other than it was not hazardous.

Jose Montoya, a spokesman with the Metropolitan Police Department, said the department's armor and bomb squad responded to a call from an officer at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse about 4:25 p.m. The officer told police a citizen said there was a suspicious package east of the federal building near 6th Street and Bridger Avenue.

Montoya said although there was nothing dangerous inside the briefcase, police have to take extra care when investigating such matters. Blowing up suspicious packages is protocol, he said.

Montoya said two law offices were evacuated while police investigated.

Several police cars and three Las Vegas Fire Department trucks responded to the call.

The flashing lights followed by a loud explosion at 6:12 p.m. didn't go unnoticed.

"I heard that (expletive) boom," said Chuck Rogers, a employee at a downtown deli shop who was riding his bike when he saw the heavy police presence near the courthouse.

"What is it? Terrorist attack? Murder?" Rogers asked.

He rode off smiling, after he was told by reporters that a briefcase was the cause of the commotion.

"This is a crazy town," he said.