Suitcase prompts street closures

A suspicious package found Monday morning at a busy Summerlin intersection turned out to be a suitcase with a dead dog inside, Las Vegas police said.

A passer-by called police about 8 a.m. to report the suitcase, which was near a trash can at an office complex at Covington Cross and Town Center drives.

Police closed both streets while 15 police and four bomb squad officers investigated the suitcase.

A small dog was discovered in the suitcase about 10:20 a.m., and access to nearby offices and other businesses was restored.

Police spokesman Ramon Denby said no one saw who left suitcase near the trash can. He said it is not illegal to dispose of dead animals in trash receptacles. If a suspect is located, authorities will explore whether other charges could be filed, he said.

The department receives calls about suspicious packages often, police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said, and most events end up being nothing.

"It's part of the job," she said. "A lot of times, the information we get initially doesn't end up being (that) in the end."

She added that each situation is handled with extra caution, especially in densely populated areas like the office park and shopping center.

"The minute we underreact, something is going to go wrong," she said.

Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.